We compared complications in pregnancies that had Kielland's rotational forceps delivery (KRFD) with non-rotational forceps delivery (NRFD). Maternal outcomes included post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) ...and obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS); neonatal outcomes included admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 5-minute Apgar scores <7, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), jaundice, shoulder dystocia and birth trauma. The study population included 491 (2.1%) requiring KRFD, 1,257 (5.3%) requiring NRFD and 22,111 (93.0%) that had SVD. In pregnancies with NRFD compared to KRFD, there was higher incidence of OASIS (8.5% vs. 4.7%; p = .006) and a non-significant increased trend for PPH (15.0% vs. 12.4%; p = .173). There was no significant difference in rates of admission to NICU (p = .628), 5-minute Apgar score <7 (p = .375), HIE (p = .532), jaundice (p = .809), severe shoulder dystocia (p = .507) or birth trauma (p = .514). Our study demonstrates that KRFD has lower rates of maternal complications compared to NRFD whilst the rates of neonatal complications are similar.
IMPACT STATEMENT
What is already known on this subject? Kielland's rotational forceps is used for achieving vaginal delivery in pregnancies with failure to progress in second stage of labour secondary to fetal malposition. The use of Kielland's forceps has significantly declined in the last few decades due to concerns about an increased risk of maternal and neonatal complications, despite the absence of any major studies demonstrating this increased risk.
What do the results of this study add? There are some studies which compare the risks in pregnancies delivering by Kiellands forceps with rotational ventouse deliveries but there is limited evidence comparing the risks of rotational with non-rotational forceps deliveries. Our study compares the major maternal and neonatal complications in a large cohort of pregnancies undergoing rotational vs. non-rotational forceps deliveries.
What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The results of our study demonstrate that maternal and neonatal complications in pregnancies delivering by Kielland's rotational forceps undertaken by appropriately trained obstetricians are either lower or similar to those delivering by non-rotational forceps. Consideration should be given to ensure that there is appropriate training provided to obstetricians to acquire skills in using Kielland's forceps.
The objective of our study was to derive accurate estimates of risks of maternal and neonatal complications associated with Kielland’s rotational forceps delivery (KRFD) compared to rotational ...ventouse delivery (RVD) or 2nd stage caesarean section (CS).
This was a retrospective cohort study undertaken at a large tertiary maternity and neonatal unit in the United Kingdom between January 2010 and June 2018. Pregnancies with fetal demise, major fetal defects, those lost to follow-up, those delivering by elective or emergency CS in the first stage of labour and non-rotational instrumental deliveries were excluded. The study population included singleton pregnancies delivering by Kielland’s forceps, rotational ventouse, 2nd stage CS or spontaneous unassisted cephalic vaginal delivery; the latter forming the control group. The maternal outcomes examined included post-partum haemorrhage (PPH) and obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS). The neonatal outcomes included admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), 5-minute Apgar scores <7, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), jaundice, shoulder dystocia and birth trauma. Absolute risks with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated in the study groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95 % CI.
The study population of 23,786 pregnancies included: 491 (2.1 %) requiring KRFD, 344 (1.4 %) requiring RVD, 840 (3.5 %) that had a 2nd stage CS and 22,111 (93.0 %) spontaneous cephalic vaginal deliveries. With regard to maternal adverse outcomes, in pregnancies that had a KRFD compared to RVD, there was no significant difference in the incidence of OASIS (p = 0.599) or PPH (p = 0.982). In contrast, the risk of PPH was significantly higher in those delivering by a 2nd stage CS compared to KRFD (27.5 % vs. 12.4 %; p < 0.0001). With regard to neonatal adverse outcomes, in those delivering by KRFD compared to RVD and 2nd stage CS, there was no significant difference in the incidence of admission to NICU (p = 0.912; p = 0.746, respectively), 5-minute Apgar score<7 (p = 0.335; p = 0.150, respectively), jaundice (p = 0.810; p = 0.332, respectively), mild shoulder dystocia (p = 0.077), severe shoulder dystocia (p = 0.603) or birth trauma (p = 0.265; p = 0.323, respectively). The risk of maternal composite adverse outcome was highest after 2nd stage CS (OR 7.68; 95 %CI: 6.52−9.04) and lowest after KRFD (OR 3.82; 95 %CI: 2.98−4.91). The risk of composite neonatal adverse outcome was higher in those delivering by RVD (OR 2.87; 95 %CI: 2.10−3.91), compared to KRFD (OR 2.23; 95 %CI: 1.67−2.97) or 2nd stage CS (OR 2.02; 95 %CI: 1.60−2.54).
Our study demonstrates that KRFD is a safer management option when compared to RVD or 2nd stage CS for the management of persistent fetal malposition in labour.
•Manual rotation is the preferred method to rotate the fetal head in the UK.•There is no clear evidence to guide practices of rotational vaginal birth.•UK Obstetricians would support an RCT of manual ...versus instrumental rotation.•This RCT would ascertain which rotational method has the lowest chance of OASI.
Malposition of the fetal head, defined as occiput transverse or posterior positions, occurs in approximately 5% of births. At full cervical dilatation, fetal malposition is associated with an increased risk of rotational vaginal birth. There are three different rotational methods: manual rotation, rotational ventouse or rotational (Kielland’s) forceps. In the absence of robust evidence, it is not currently known which of the three methods is most efficacious, and safest for parents and babies.
To gain greater insights into opinions and preferences of rotational birth to explore the acceptability and feasibility of performing a randomised trial comparing different rotational methods.
A survey was sent via email to obstetricians from the British Maternal Fetal Medicine Society, as well as expert obstetricians and active academics in ongoing research in the UK. The questions focussed on perceived competence, preferred rotational method, location (theatre or labour room), willingness to recruit to an RCT, and its outcome measures. Closed questions were followed by the option of free text to allow further comments. The free text answers underwent thematic analysis.
252 consultant obstetricians responded. The majority stated they were competent in performing manual rotation (88.1%). Half felt proficient using Kielland’s rotational forceps (54.4%). Most obstetricians felt skilled in rotational ventouse (76.2%). Manual rotation was the preferred first rotational method of choice in cases of both occiput transverse and posterior positions. The decision for which rotational method to attempt first was considered case-dependent by many. Two thirds of obstetricians would usually conduct rotational births in theatre (67.9%). Over half (52%) do not routinely use intrapartum ultrasound. Most (62.7%) would be willing to recruit to a randomised controlled trial comparing manual versus instrumental rotation. Over half (57.2%) would be willing to recruit to the same RCT if they were the most senior doctor competent in rotational vaginal birth supervising a junior.
There is a wide range of practice in conducting rotational vaginal births in the UK. An RCT to investigate the impact of different rotational methods on outcome would be both feasible and desirable, especially in research-active hospitals.
Spring forceps as applicator stand Liang, Bernard M.H.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,
August 2023, 2023-08-00, 20230801, Letnik:
89, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Background
There is conflicting evidence regarding the safety of Kielland's rotational forceps delivery (KRFD) in comparison with other modes of delivery for the management of persistent fetal ...malposition in the second stage of labour.
Objectives
To derive estimates of risks of maternal and neonatal complications following KRFD, compared with rotational ventouse delivery (RVD), non‐rotational forceps delivery (NRFD) or a second‐stage caesarean section (CS), from a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the literature.
Search Strategy
Standard search methodology, as recommended by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.
Selection Criteria
Case series, prospective or retrospective cohort studies and population‐based studies.
Data Collection and Analysis
A meta‐analysis using a random‐effects model was used to derive weighted pooled estimates of maternal and neonatal complications.
Main Results
Thirteen studies were included. For postpartum haemorrhage there was no significant difference between Kielland's and ventouse delivery; the rate was lower in Kielland's delivery compared with non‐rotational forceps (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.95) and second‐stage CS (RR 0.45, 95% CI 0.36–0.58). There were no differences in the rates of anal sphincter injuries or admission to neonatal intensive care. Rates of shoulder dystocia were higher with Kielland's delivery compared with ventouse delivery (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.08–2.98), but rates of neonatal birth trauma were lower (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26–0.91). There were no differences seen in the rates of 5‐min APGAR score < 7 between Kielland's delivery and other instrumental births, but they were lower when compared with second‐stage CS (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.97).
Conclusions
Kielland's rotational forceps delivery is a safe option for the management of fetal malposition in the second stage of labour.
Linked article: This article is commented on by Parris and Siassakos, pp. 865 in this issue. To view this mini commentary visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17413.
Operative vaginal delivery and, in particular, rotational forceps delivery require extensive training, specific skills, and dexterity. Performed correctly, it can reduce the need for difficult late ...second-stage cesarean delivery and its associated complications. When rotation to occiput anterior position is achieved, pelvic trauma and anal sphincter injury commonly associated with direct delivery from occiput posterior positions may be avoided.
We report the original and novel use of real-time intrapartum ultrasound simultaneously during Kielland’s rotational forceps delivery to monitor correct execution and increase maternal safety.
This is a prospective observational study performed at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin between 2013 and 2018. Simultaneous, real-time, intrapartum suprapubic ultrasound during Kielland’s rotational forceps deliveries were performed in a series of laboring women with normal fetuses and arrest of labor in the late second stage and with a fetal head malposition, requiring operative vaginal delivery. In addition to vaginal palpation for head station, rotation, and asynclitism, intrapartum ultrasound was also used to objectively determine head station, head direction, and midline angle. The operator was not blinded to the ultrasound findings.
The delivering obstetrician examined the woman and performed the delivery. An assistant, trained in intrapartum ultrasound, placed a curved-array transducer transversely in the midline just above the pubic bone to display the forceps blades being applied and the rotation of the fetal head in occiput anterior position.
In all 32 laboring women included in the study, the blades were applied correctly and the fetal heads successfully rotated to an occiput anterior position with direct ultrasound confirmation, and vaginal delivery was achieved. There were no cases of difficult application, repeat application, slippage of the blades, or rotation of the fetal head in the wrong direction. Maternal outcomes showed no vaginal tears, cervical tears, or postpartum hemorrhage >500 mL. There was 1 case of third-degree perineal tear (3a). Neonatal outcomes included mild hyperbilirubinemia (n=1), small cephalohematoma conservatively managed (n=1), and early-onset group B streptococcus sepsis secondary to maternal colonization (n=1). There were no neonatal deaths.
Ultrasound guidance during Kielland’s rotational forceps delivery is an original and novel approach. We describe the use of intrapartum ultrasound in assessing fetal head station and position and also to simultaneously and objectively monitor performance of rotational forceps delivery. Intrapartum ultrasound enhances operator confidence and, possibly, patient safety. It is a valuable adjunct to obstetrical training and can improve learning efficiency. Real-time ultrasound guidance of fetal head rotation to occiput anterior position with Kielland’s forceps may also protect the perineum and reduce anal sphincter injury. This novel approach can lead to a renaissance in the safe use of Kielland’s forceps.
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