Introduction: Approximately 3% of deliveries in Slovenia end with vacuum extraction. The incidence of neonatal intracranial haemorrhages in vacuum-complete deliveries is not known in Slovenia. Purpose: The objective was to examine association between mode of delivery and incidence of neonatal intracranial haemorrhage. Methods: Slovenian National Perinatal Information System (NPIS) data for the period 2002 through 2016 were analysed. Nulliparous women delivering singleton neonates in cephalic presentation weighting 2500 to 4000g were included. Incidence of neonatal intracranial haemorrhage in vacuum delivery vs. other modes of delivery was compared using Chi-square test (p< 0.05 significant). Results: 125393 deliveries were included: 5438 (4 %) planned caesarean deliveries, 97764 (78 %) spontaneous vaginal deliveries, 15577 (12 %) emergency caesarean deliveries, and 6614 (5 %) vacuum extractions. 17 (0.14/1000) neonatal intracranial haemorrhages were recorded: 12 occurred in spontaneous vaginal deliveries, two in emergency caesarean deliveries, and three in vacuum extractions. As compared with infants born by spontaneous vaginal delivery, those delivered by vacuum extraction had higher rates of intracranial haemorrhage (odds ratio (OR) 3.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-13.10). Risk estimates did not reach statistical significance when comparing infants born by vacuum extraction and those born by emergency caesarean delivery (OR 3.54; 95% CI 0.59-21.16). Discussion and conclusions: Infants born by vacuum extraction have significantly higher rates of intracranial haemorrhage than those born by spontaneous vaginal delivery, though absolute risk is small. There are no significant differences in rates of intracranial haemorrhage in vacuum extraction vs. emergency caesarean delivery.
|