Objective: To compare neonatal neurologic complication rates of cesarean deliveries, forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries, and vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries.
Methods: Data on singleton live births at 34 weeks or greater gestation born to nulliparous women from 1995 to 2003 in New York City were linked to hospital discharge data. Any diagnosis of neonatal subdural hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, seizures, scalp laceration or cephalohematoma, fracture, facial nerve palsy, brachial plexus injury, or 5-minute Apgar score of less than 7 was considered significant. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations between delivery mode and these neonatal morbidities.
Results: Forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries were associated with significantly fewer seizures and 5-minute Apgar scores less than 7 compared with vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries and cesarean deliveries. Cesarean deliveries were linked to less subdural hemorrhages compared with forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries or vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries. When seizure, intraventricular hemorrhage, and subdural hemorrhage were examined collectively to best predict neurologic outcome, forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries had an overall reduced risk compared with both vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries (odds ratio [OR] 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-0.90) and cesarean deliveries (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.97). The number needed to treat to prevent one case of severe neurologic morbidity is 509 for forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries compared with vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries and 559 for forceps-assisted vaginal deliveries compared with cesarean deliveries.
Conclusion: Compared with vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery, a forceps-assisted vaginal delivery is associated with a reduced risk of adverse neonatal neurologic outcomes.
Level of evidence: II.