VACUUM EXTRACTION OF PRETERM INFANTS WITH BIRTH WEIGHTS OF 1,500-2,499 GRAMS

This study evaluated neonatal morbidity in preterm infants with birth weights of 1,500-2,499 who were delivered by vacuum extraction. The re trospective, observational study covered 61 infants delivered vaginall y with vacuum extraction versus 122 matched controls delivered spontan eously. All infants were at < 37 weeks of gestation, with birth weight s ranging from 1,500 to 2,499 g. Main neonatal outcomes studied were A pgar scores, umbilical artery blood pH and base excess, intraventricul ar hemorrhage, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and lengt h of hospital stay. The study population did not differ in any materna l or neonatal demographic parameter. There was a decreased need for ep isiotomies in the vacuum-assisted deliveries versus the controls (41% versus 57%, P =.01, odds ratio =.51, confidence interval .27,.96). Neo natal morbidity was not significantly different in infants with vacuum -assisted deliveries. Vacuum extraction does not seem to increase neon atal morbidity in preterm infants with birth weights of 1,500-2,499 g.