ANALYSIS OF VENTOUSE DELIVERIES AT TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Background:-Instrumental deliveries are conducted to assist or expediate the delivery of the baby in second stage of labour. Ventouse deliveries are on rise due to its preferance over obstetric forceps.Relative safety and requirement of less technical skill ,could be the two main reasons for its preferance over forceps.Results:-The incidence of ventouse deliveries was 0.73%.Common indications of ventouse application were maternal exhaustion,previous caesarean section, fetal distress and eclampsia. Six percent cases had ventouse related complications.One case had third degree perineal tear and one baby had cephal hematoma and intracranial hemorrhage.Failure of ventouse, requiring caesarean section was observed in 4% of cases. Apgar score of babies delivered by ventouse, performed for prolonged second stage was lower, than when it was performed for prophylactic indication.Overall neonatal outcome was satisfactory. Duration of hospital stay was not affected by ventouse delivery.Conclusion:-Careful selection of cases and adequate training of postgraduate students during residency under direct supervision of senior experienced obstetrician can reduce the rate of failed ventouse and related complications.Ventouse remains a good alternative to obstetric forceps in situation like proloned second stage and those situations which demand shortening of second stage of labour like maternal hypertensive diseases and rheumatic heart diseases.