Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have found that using forceps to deliver babies greatly decreases the risk of a brain injury when compared to vacuum extraction.
The study, which was published in Obstetrics & Gynecology, compared vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery with a forceps-assisted vaginal delivery and found that the latter is associated with a reduced risk of complications. Researchers looked at data on 450,000 live births of children at 34 weeks or more from 1995 to 2003 in New York City. Overall, they found that forceps were associated with the least risk of neurological damage.
The birth injuries that most commonly occur with the use of vacuum extraction involve bleeding in the area between the skull and the scalp or bleeding inside the child’s skull. This can lead to brain damage, cerebral palsy or developmental problems.
Vacuum Extraction Lawsuit
Seda Kaplanyan and Tigran Gadyan’s baby, David, died of massive head trauma after being delivered by vacuum extraction. The infant suffered the injuries at Glendale Memorial Hospital on February 24, 2011, and was later taken to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where he died the next day.
The birth injury lawsuit accuses his obstetrician, Dr. Galstyan, of medical negligence in his use of the vacuum device during delivery. The lawsuit was filed in October 2011, at Los Angeles County Superior Court. According to the claim, questions arose after the autopsy, when the Los Angeles County Coroner recommended an inquiry into the infant’s death. Due to evidence of massive trauma to skull and brain, they found that the death was not natural and recommended a further look into the circumstances of the delivery.
Though vacuum extraction deliveries seem to be increasing in popularity, there is little evidence that it is a safer alternative to a forceps delivery, or the best option for your baby.
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If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice, you may want to contact our Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Childers, Schlueter & Smith, LLC to see how they can help protect your legal interests. Our trained Georgia Medical Malpractice Lawyers can help answer any questions you may have and, as always, the initial consultation is free.
