An audit of forceps delivery in Trinidad

An audit of 247 consecutive forceps deliveries during a 6-year period was undertaken in order to establish trends in recourse to this instrument, maternal complications and fetal outcome. The chief indications were prolonged second stage of labour and poor maternal effort. Our overall forceps rate o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 2002, Vol.22 (3), p.267-269
Main Authors: Roopnarinesingh, A., Knowles, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Delivery, Obstetric - adverse effects
Delivery, Obstetric - instrumentation
Delivery, Obstetric - methods
Female
Fetuses
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Injuries
Medical equipment
Obstetric Labor Complications - therapy
Obstetrical Forceps - adverse effects
Obstetrical Forceps - utilization
Obstetrics
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Retrospective Studies
Trends
Trinidad and Tobago
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Summary:An audit of 247 consecutive forceps deliveries during a 6-year period was undertaken in order to establish trends in recourse to this instrument, maternal complications and fetal outcome. The chief indications were prolonged second stage of labour and poor maternal effort. Our overall forceps rate of 0·81% betrays a marked divergence from the practice in metropolitan countries. Although birth injuries were a major drawback, assistance with forceps still appears to be a safer alternative than caesarean section when a problem exists which impedes spontaneous delivery in the second stage. In choosing between obstetric options, we voluntarily take one course which we dislike because the alternative is more objectionable still; the unpleasantness of the choice does not destroy its reality.
ISSN:0144-3615
1364-6893
DOI:10.1080/01443610220130535