Fossa posterior hemorrhage in newborns following vacuum extractor delivery

Aim. - To emphasize the risk of posterior fossa hemorrhage in newborns foll owing vacuum extraction. Patients and methods. - Over a period of 26 months (September 1996-December 1998), seven patients who underwent delivery with the vacuum extractor had symptoms of brain stem compression, related to posterior fossa hemorrhage. They were referred to the neonatal intensive care unit. Some parameters ha d been analyzed: gestational period, delivery circumstances, gestational ag e, parameters of newborn, indications of vacuum extraction and other paracl inical investigations (biological and radiological). Results. - Ultrasound scan revealed intracranial hemorrhage in five cases o f seven; mean time of diagnosis was 10 hours of age. All patients presented symptoms of brain stem compression. Mean period of follow-up was 22 months : six of seven patients had a normal neurodevelopment. One patient had a ce rebellar ataxia, another one a palsy of the IIIrd cranial nerve. Conclusion. - Analyses of posterior fossa by ultrasound scan should be made for newborns delivered by vacuum extractor, especially if they had symptom s of brain stem compression (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales El sevier SAS.