Objective: To assess success rates, modes of delivery following failure, complications of mothers and newborns, and effect of extractor station and parity on vacuum-assisted deliveries attended by family physicians.
Design: Retrospective audit.
Setting: Community hospital.
Participants: Thirty-five family physicians providing maternity care.
Main outcome measures: Complications, parity, and extractor station of 153 vacuum-assisted deliveries from April 1, 2000, to March 31, 2003.
Results: Family physicians attempted 153 vacuum deliveries (82 at low station, 71 at outlet station) and had a 94.1% success rate. Of nine failed vacuum deliveries (eight at low station and one at outlet station), four were subsequently delivered by forceps and five by cesarean section. Except for one case of subdural hematoma, complications were few. Nulliparity was associated with six of the nine failed vacuum deliveries.
Conclusion: Family physicians were usually successful with vacuum-assisted deliveries. Complications were infrequent and rapidly resolved, but one failure, which was followed by a failed forceps delivery and eventual cesarean section, resulted in a serious complication. Low station and nulliparity were associated with failure of vacuum-assisted deliveries.