OBJECTIVE:

To compare the rate of success and maternal and fetal complications related to the application of vacuum extractor versus forceps in instrumental delivery assistance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Retrospective, observational and comparative study in patients with singleton term pregnancy in whom delivery was instrumented with vacuum extractor or forceps. Indications, technical parameters, maternal and fetal complications, and success of the application of the study groups were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed with χ2 and Student's t test.

RESULTS:

Instrumentation during labor was applied to 128 patients, of which 38 were forceps and 90 vacuum. The success rate for forceps was 100% and for vacuum 92.2% (p = 0.8). The outcomes vacuum vs. forceps were Apgar at 1 minute and 5 minutes (8.16 vs. 7.6; p = 0.001 and 8.9 vs. 8.7; p = 0.01) for vacuum, higher immediate attachment (91. 1 vs 15.7%; p < 0.05) and joint accommodation (77.7 vs 50.5%; p < 0.05), fewer minor injuries (23 vs 57%; p < 0.05) and severe injuries (1.1 vs 23.6%; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

The success of forceps and vacuum assisted delivery is similar; with the former, significantly lower Apgar scores and higher maternal and fetal complications were associated. These outcomes can be explained in different contexts; the fact that vacuum is used more often than forceps may be due to the fact that the learning curve for vacuum extractor is shorter, in addition to the fact that it is more accepted by the health care team and the patient.