Forceps delivery at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria: a ten year review

In a ten year review in a Nigerian teaching hospital, forceps delivery accounted for 2.1% of the total births. Delivery was at 36-40 weeks in majority (79.3%) of the patients and primiparae accounted for 45.4% of the cases. The procedures were performed as emergencies in 78.6%, while the majority (91.1%) were outlet forceps deliveries. The common indications were prolonged second stage of labour (58.7%), hypertension in pregnancy/pre-eclampsia (10.3%), fetal distress (9.2%), eclampsia (8.1%) and maternal distress (5.9%). Bruises of the fetal head and fracture of the skull complicated 9.2% and 2.2% of the cases respectively. The main maternal complications were post-partum haemorrhage (3.3%), puerperal sepsis (2.9%), broken down episiotomy repair (2.9%), third degree perineal tear (2.2%) and vaginal lacerations (2.2%). Measures aimed at reducing the associated hazards are suggested.