A Consideration on Forceps Manipulation in Surgical Delivery

The forceps manipulation has been abandoned for these three decades from the emergent procedure for terminating delivery. In this study, the outcome of deliveries done by forceps manipulation was analyzed in 15 term pregnant women at obstetrical ward of Ryotsu Municipal Hospital in order to evaluate the usefulness of forceps delivery as one of surgical procedures for terminating delivery. The outcome was compared with that obtained from deliveries with vacuum extraction or deliveries with no surgical procedure. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Although the laceration of birth canal was observed to be more elongated in patients undergoing forceps manipulation compared with those undergoing vacuum extraction, there were no severe complications such as th 4th degree of laceration or vaginal hematoma. 2. The amount of bleeding at delivery was not significantly different between patients undergoing forceps manipulation and those undergoing vacuum extration. 3. Cencerning neonatal conditions, in cases with forceps manipulation, the rate of appearance of neonatal asphyxia was significantly high compared with cases with vacuum extraction. The severe neonatal asphyxia, however, was observed only in cases with vacuum extraction. 4. There were 5 eases who finally underwent forceps manipulation or cesarean section due to failed vacuum extraction. On the contrary, in all cases with forceps manipulation, an offspring was born with only one or two times of traction. These results indicate the usefulness and reliability of forceps manipulation in emergent procedures for terminating delivery