Cranial ultrasound after forceful midpelvis vacuum extraction at term

The heads of 28 non-hypoxic, full-term infants of normal gravidas delivered by forceful vacuum extraction were examined with ultrasound during the early neonatal period. All echographic findings were normal and all neonates had an uneventful evolution during the first week of life. Addendum: Since this article was completed, a massive intracranial haemorrhage occurred in a non-hypoxic full-term newborn after elective midpelvic vacuum extraction. The intervention was performed by a resident who, despite the guidelines did not call the senior obstetrician after three unsuccessful attempts to extract the fetus. The head was stationed, 2 cm above the level of the ischial spines, not completely flexed with the occiput in the right-anterior position. The newborn died at the age of 3 hours. Autopsy showed a tear of the tentorium cerebelli and the vena cerebri magna.