Vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery (VAVD)-basics for the risk manager

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) manager calls you about a baby delivered last night now with brain trauma. She understands that it was a difficult delivery with a vacuum. There were "multiple pop-offs" and, after the baby was delivered, the NICU resuscitation team was called. The Apgar scores were 3 and 5. They are requesting risk management to lead a debriefing today. What to ask? How many pop-offs are allowed? What was the interaction between the nurses and physician? Why wasn't the resuscitation team in attendance before the delivery? Was the vacuum placed properly? How many pulls? How long was the vacuum in place? What should be documented, and was the documentation adequate? All of these are appropriate questions for an adequate analysis of an adverse outcome resulting from a vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery (VAVD). This article focuses on the risk management issues of VAVD in order to give the risk manager a better understanding of appropriate use, data-gathering tools, educational opportunities, and assistance in establishing a culture of safety for the entire perinatal team regarding the use of the vacuum device.