Article Sections

Introduction

An operative vaginal delivery is a procedure that uses instruments (forceps or vacuum extractor) to assist and expedite fetal delivery.

Types of instruments used

In operative vaginal deliveries (also known as forceps- or vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries), instrumentation is used to assist the provider in expediting fetal delivery so that cesarean delivery is not necessary.

  • Forceps ( Figure 1):  metal instruments (that resemble large spoons or salad tongs) that are applied to the fetal head to help guide it out of the pelvic outlet.
  • Vacuum extractor ( Figure 2):  a suction device that is attached to the fetal head; the vacuum aids delivery by exerting suction pressure at the flexion point of the fetal skull (over the sagittal suture toward the posterior fontanelle), which allows the operator to guide the fetal head through the pelvic outlet.

Continue Learning with UWorld

Get the full Operative Vaginal Delivery article plus rich visuals, real-world cases, and in-depth insights from medical experts, all available through the UWorld Medical Library.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 4

Tables

Table 1