Vacuum Assisted Caesarean Sections

Introduction

Solomons originally reported on the use of the vacuum extractor to assist delivery of the fetal head at elective caesarean sections in 1962. Today there is widespread use, but very little literature detailing the method, the maternal or neonatal outcomes, or surgical benefits of this technique. Often times with an elective caesarean section, the lower uterine segment has not been effaced or elongated by labor and thus making an adequate incision can be difficult. In addition, at the time of an elective repeat caesarean section the fetal head is commonly ‘floating’ above the pelvic brim. Techniques to effect delivery in this situation have included fundal pressure, forceps, internal podalic version, or addition of a vertical incision