| Operative vaginal delivery | |
|---|---|
 Nine diagrams illustrating breech and natural births and the obstetrical instruments used to assist them circa 1800s | |
| Specialty | Obstetrics |
Operative vaginal delivery, also known as assisted or instrumental vaginal delivery, is a vaginal delivery that is assisted by the use of forceps or a vacuum extractor.[1]
Operative vaginal delivery is required in times of maternal or fetal distress to assist in childbirth as an alternative to caesarean section.[2] Its use has decreased over the years in comparison to caesarean section.[2][3] The two main instruments used are rotational forceps and vacuum extractors, each with different complication risks. Possible complications introduced with the use of instruments for the mother include pelvic floor injury, anal sphincter injury, bleeding, or cuts.[4][5] Possible complications to the infant include bruising to the scalp, retinal bleeding, and scrapes to the scalp and face.[5][6]
- ^ "Operative Vaginal Delivery" (PDF). RCOG. NICE. January 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
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Norwitz_2019was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Verma, Ganga L.; Spalding, Jessica J.; Wilkinson, Marc D.; Hofmeyr, G. Justus; Vannevel, Valerie; O'Mahony, Fidelma (2021-09-24). "Instruments for assisted vaginal birth". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2021 (9): CD005455. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005455.pub3. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 8462579. PMID 34559884.