Vacuum extraction and neonatal jaundice

Abstract

Various fetal scalp lesions are related to the use of the vacuum extractor. Blood sequestered in these lesions could result in an increased bilirubin load on the functionally limited neonatal liver, leading to the development of hyperbilirubinemia. In the present study bilirubin levels of vacuum extracted neonates were compared with those of non-instrumentally delivered babies during the first 72 hours of life. Sixty-nine vacuum extracted neonates had higher bilirubin levels than 56 non-instrumentally delivered babies at 24 (114 mumol/l vs. 96 mumol/l), 48 (163 vs. 141) and 72 (194 vs. 144) hours of age. The p values were 0.05, less than 0.025 and less than 0.001 respectively. This trend was apparent in both oxytocin induced and non-induced deliveries and whether or not phototherapy cases were included in the analysis. The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy was higher after vacuum extraction than after non instrumental delivery (27.5% vs. 12.5%; p less than 0.04). Analysis of our results unexpectedly indicated that oxytocin induction was generally associated with an attenuation of bilirubin levels after both vacuum extraction and spontaneous delivery. The clinician attending newborn babies should be aware of the higher incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia associated with vacuum extraction.