Temporal trends and morbidities of vacuum, forceps, and combined use of both.
OBJECTIVE
To assess trends over time of operative vaginal delivery and compare delivery-related morbidity between vacuum delivery, forceps delivery, or combined use of both in California.


METHODS
California ICD-9 discharge data from 2001 to 2007 were used to identify cases of forceps and vacuum delivery.


RESULTS
There was a decline in all operative delivery types (9.0% in 2001 to 7.6% in 2007), with the decline in the use of forceps most pronounced (7.26/1000 deliveries in 2001 to 3.85/1000 in 2007). Higher rates of third/fourth degree lacerations, postpartum hemorrhage, manual extraction of placenta, pelvic hematoma requiring evacuation, cervical laceration repair, and thromboembolic events were noted in forceps compared to vacuum deliveries. When both instruments were used, rates of third/fourth degree lacerations and postpartum hemorrhage were increased. Operative delivery failure was highest in combined use compared to forceps or vacuum alone.


CONCLUSION
The incidence of operative vaginal delivery in California is declining, with decreasing use of forceps most notable. Several maternal morbidities are increased in forceps and combined deliveries compared to vacuum deliveries. There is a significantly higher risk of failure when two operative delivery methods are employed. These findings may be contributing to the declining willingness of providers to perform operative vaginal delivery.
['Fong|Alex|A|', 'Wu|Erica|E|', 'Pan|Deyu|D|', 'Chung|Judith H|JH|', 'Ogunyemi|Dotun A|DA|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D001720:Birth Injuries D002140:California D036861:Delivery, Obstetric D005260:Female D006801:Humans D015994:Incidence D007231:Infant, Newborn D008875:Middle Aged D009017:Morbidity D009772:Obstetrical Forceps D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage D011247:Pregnancy D012189:Retrospective Studies D014618:Vacuum D014620:Vacuum Extraction, Obstetrical D055815:Young Adult
operative vaginal delivery California incidence outcomes population-based study