Vanishing forceps delivery

This study evaluates the effect of decreasing cesarean rates and increasing regional anesthesia use on the frequency of forceps deliveries. Data of women who delivered at our community hospital from 1990 through 1997 are reviewed. In 1994, the members of our department adopted several strategies to decrease cesarean deliveries. The cesarean rate decreased whereas regional analgesia use increased. We studied the frequency and type of vaginal operative deliveries during this 8 year period. These data were evaluated by chi2 analysis. Data of women who delivered in the first 4 years (group 1) were compared with data of those who delivered in the second 4 years (group 2). A p < 0.05 was considered significant. The demographic and clinical characteristics of these women remained unchanged during the study period. The total cesarean rate decreased from 23.2% in group 1 to 17.9% in group 2 (p < 0.0001). The proportion of women who received regional anesthesia increased from 18.8 in group 1 to 25.7 in group 2 (p < 0.0001). Vaginal operative deliveries increased from 3.6 to 5.5 (p < 0.0001), whereas the proportion of forceps deliveries decreased from 2.2 to 1.5 (p = 0.001). Perinatal morbidity and mortality did not change. The decrease in cesarean rate and increase in regional anesthesia use were associated with an increase in operative deliveries; however, forceps deliveries continue to decrease in our community hospital.