Vacuum-assisted delivery: maternal and neonatal outcomes at a tertiary research hospital

Abstract

Objective: Vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries are gradually decreasing due to the fear of complications. This study aimed to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes of vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries with spontaneous deliveries. Methods: All nulliparous women who underwent vacuum-assisted deliveries between October 1, 2018, and October 1, 2022, were included in our study, forming the case group. The control group comprised nulliparous women who experienced spontaneous vaginal delivery. We compared the demographic, maternal, and neonatal outcomes of the pregnant women included in both groups. Results: Caput succedaneum was more prevalent in the vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery group (p < 0.001), with lower mean 1st and 5th minute APGAR scores compared to the spontaneous vaginal delivery group (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). No significant differences were observed between the two groups concerning cephalohematoma (p = 0.269), clavicle fracture (p = 0.308), respiratory failure (p = 0.117), jaundice (p = 0.089), and sepsis (p = 0.772). In terms of maternal complications, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of grade 2/3 perineal tears (p = 0.082, p = 0.159, respectively), uterine atony (p = 0.308), cervical laceration (p = 0.158), and hysterectomy (p = 0.32) Conclusion: These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians, suggesting that the use of vacuum assistance might be considered as an alternative before opting for cesarean delivery, especially when necessary indications arise during the second stage of labor.