Research

An audit of the CaesAid vacuum-assisted delivery cup compared with forceps delivery of the fetal head in caesarean section

N N Stolwijk, P R de Jong

Abstract


Background. Vacuum-assisted caesarean delivery may result in a quicker delivery of the fetal head than the use of forceps, and improve maternal and fetal outcomes. The new CaesAid vacuum-assisted delivery (VAD) cup was designed specifically for this use. 

Objectives. To assess whether the CaesAid VAD cup influences the duration of fetal head delivery at caesarean section when compared with forceps, and whether there are differences in perioperative complications in the mother and fetus. 

Methods. We carried out a retrospective clinical audit of 132 patients who underwent caesarean delivery at the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, from April to November 2017, aided by either CaesAid VAD cup (C group, n=67) or forceps (F group, n=65). 

Results. The uterine incision-to-delivery interval was significantly shorter (p=0.001) in the C group than the F group (median 38 (interquartile range (IQR) 20) v. 60 (IQR 50) seconds, respectively). The maternal blood loss was lower in the C group than the F group (250 mL v. 288 mL; p=0.025). There was no significant difference in Apgar scores or admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit. Neonatal skin injuries were less common in the C group (no cases v. 8 in the F group; p=0.004). 

Conclusion. The results of this audit suggest that the CaesAid VAD cup is a safe and efficient alternative to forceps for aiding the delivery of the fetal head at caesarean section. However, the routine use of vacuum cups is debatable. Further research could provide more insight into this procedure as a part of obstetric practice.


Authors' affiliations

N N Stolwijk, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Amsterdam and AMC Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

P R de Jong, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town and Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Full Text

PDF (238KB)

Keywords

Caesarean section; Vacuum assisted delivery; CaesAid VAD cup; Forceps assisted delivery; Forceps; U-D Interval

Cite this article

South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2019;25(1):20. DOI:10.7196/sajog.1377

Article History

Date submitted: 2018-07-30
Date published: 2019-08-27

Article Views

Abstract views: 2874
Full text views: 891

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here


The South African Medical Association is the official publisher of the SAJOG.

                                                           

                                        SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

                                                         Events | Careers | CPD

 

The South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology| Online ISSN: 2305-8862 | Print ISSN: 0038-2329 | 

Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 4.0) | 

This journal is protected by a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial Works License (CC BY-NC 4.0) | Read our privacy policy.

SAMA Journals: South African Medical Journal African Journal of Health Professions Education South African Journal of Bioethics and Law South African Journal of Child Health | Southern African Journal of Critical Care  | South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Undergraduate Research in Health African Journal of Thoracic and Critical Care Medicine  | Southern African Journal of Public Health