REVIEW  LABOR AND DELIVERY 

Minerva Obstetrics and Gynecology 2021 February;73(1):45-56

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-606X.21.04679-7

Copyright © 2021 MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Operative vaginal delivery: all you should know

Bianca MASTURZO ¹ ✉, Marina ZONCA ¹, Chiara GERMANO ², Flavia GIRLANDO ², Debora DIACONO ², Rossella ATTINI ¹, Guido MENATO ³, Chiara BENEDETTO ⁴

¹ Sant’Anna University Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy; ² Department of Surgical Sciences, Sant’Anna University Hospital, Turin, Italy; ³ Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2, Department of Surgical Sciences, Sant’Anna University Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy; ⁴ Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1, Department of Surgical Sciences, Sant’Anna University Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, Turin, Italy

Over the last three decades, the decrease in operative vaginal delivery (OVD) has lead to an increase in the rate of cesarean sections, giving rise to intense debate amongst healthcare providers. As the use of vacuum and forceps requires personnel be adequately trained so as to become familiar with the correct use of instruments, the lack of skilled and experienced instructors may well lead to this technique being discarded in the near future. The aim of this study was to review the literature, compare the recommendations from international OVD guidelines and to illustrate the correct technique of obstetrical vacuum and forceps application to promote OVD among clinicians as a safe way of delivery.

KEY WORDS: Delivery, obstetric; Vacuum extraction, obstetrical; Obstetric forceps