Vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery

Vacuum extraction is an effective method of operative vaginal delivery. The procedure is widely used in Europe and many developing countries as the instrument of choice for assisted vaginal deliveries and has recently gained greater acceptance in the United States. The vacuum procedure is relatively easy to learn and offers a safer, less traumatic alternative to the use of forceps or cesarean section for indicated deliveries. Advances in extractor cup design have resulted in fewer cases of neonatal and maternal trauma and improved efficacy. As with any procedure, strict attention to technique and sound clinical judgment are essential for success.