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  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Subgaleal hemorrhage with dural tear and parietal-lobe herniation in association with a vacuum extraction

Abstract

Use of the vacuum for operative vaginal deliveries has become more favorable with fewer obstetricians and family practitioners trained in the use of forceps. When compared with forcep-assisted deliveries, the vacuum has been associated with a higher incidence of subgaleal hemorrhage (SGH), cephalhematomas, skull and clavicular fractures, Erb's Palsy, intracranial hemorrhage and need for ICN admission. We report the case of an infant who developed a large SGH with midline dural tear and herniation of the medial aspect of the parietal lobes bilaterally in association with a vacuum extraction (VE) delivery. Counseling of families prior to instrumented delivery as to the potential complications, adherence to recommendations for abandoning operative vaginal delivery in favor of a cesarean section and close observation of those infants delivered by VE is warranted.

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Correspondence to S D Kicklighter.

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Kicklighter, S., Wolfe, D. & Perciaccante, J. Subgaleal hemorrhage with dural tear and parietal-lobe herniation in association with a vacuum extraction. J Perinatol 27, 797–799 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211845

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