To evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcome after Forceps delivery

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcome of forceps assisted deliveries.​ Methods: This​ prospective study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India from​ march 2018 to December 2019. Total 120 cases of forceps delivery were studied for maternal outcome such as injuries, postpartum hemorrhage, need of blood transfusion and fetal outcome such as birth weight, Apgar scores at birth, neonatal intensive care unit admissions, injury, stillbirths and neonatal mortality. 

Results: 71.67​ % of patients requiring forceps application were primigravida. The most common indication was fetal distress (55.84%) followed by maternal exhaustion. The most common maternal complication was extension of episiotomy 20(16.67%). A total of 35 babies had Apgar scores of less than 6 at 1 minute and required resuscitation. 5 still births were reported and 15 required NICU admission out of which 8 were put on ventilator support. 2 babies expired on the second day and rests were discharged in satisfactory condition.  Conclusions: The​ second stage interventions are associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidity. Judicial use forceps under close supervision and with proper expertise can reduce the caesarean section rates.

Keywords: Forceps, Morbidity, Maternal outcome, Neonatal outcome​