Ventouse

From ArticleWorld

The term, ventouse, is strictly a European term for what is called a vacuum-extractor in the US. It is used in the practice of obstetrics to assist in the passage of the fetal head through the birth canal when the last stage of labor becomes difficult.

The device

The ventouse device consists of a soft, rubbery cup that is attached via a tube to a handheld device that a second person, such as a nurse, can pump to create suction once the cup is affixed to the infant’s head. A metered device is attached to the pump that measures the amount of suction applied to avoid over-suctioning the tissues of the head and to establish that the suction cup is applied properly.

The juncture between the cup and the suction tube has a handle for the individual delivering the baby to hold onto and to apply a pulling pressure to help the head pass through the birth canal. Some devices have a release valve that the practitioner can use to detach the device once sufficient progress of head descent has been made. In other devices, there is no release valve and the suction cup simply pulls away from the head or can be released by manually inserting a finger between the suction cup and the head.

Uses

The ventouse device can be inserted into the vagina and onto the head any time the progress of the head passing through the birth canal is slowed or appears to stop. It can be used in the case of extreme maternal fatigue or whenever there is evidence of distress in either the infant or the mother. The device is usually placed onto the infant’s head between contractions and suction is applied at the onset of another contraction so that the fetal head can descend by means of the ventouse and the mother’s pushing action together.

Pros and Cons

The ventouse can assist in a delivery that might otherwise end in a Cesarean section or with excessive fetal distress. An episiotomy may not need to be made prior to using the device and the mother is allowed to continue pushing in the delivery process. The ventouse is considered safer than a forceps delivery as it applies a less amount of pressure to the infant head and surrounding maternal tissues.

The downside of using a ventouse is that the suctioning can, in effect, pull the fetal head tissue away from the skull causing what can be a large hematoma or collection of blood on the fetal head. This can sometimes lead to the later onset of jaundice in the infant as it tries to remove the blood from the hematoma.

In addition, the suction applied to the fetal head can sometimes worsen the distress the infant is under. The suctioning device is also made solely for the fetal head and cannot be used for a breech presentation.