We performed a prospective, controlled, randomized trial to compare de safety and efficacy between the vaginal assisted delivery with vacum extractor forceps. We included a control group of primigravidae. We use the ACOG application criteria for operative obstetrics. We measured the differences in regard to indication for operative delivery, obstetric trauma and the general characteristics of the patients. A total of 210 patients were included which were distributed in three groups. In the first group we included the patients of vacum extractor, the second group of forceps and the third the control group. In our results we found no statistically significant differences among three groups in regard to the general characteristics and obstetric trauma. In the vacum extractor group we found six cefalohematomas (8.5%), two newborns with skin laceration (2.8%) and four newborns with cerebral edema (5.7%). In the forceps group we had two newborns diagnosed with cefalohematomas (2.8%), seven newborns with cerebral edema (10%) and scalp laceration on four newborns (6%). In the control group we found one cefalohematoma (1.4%) and cerebral edema in four newborns (5.7%). We did not find statistically significant differences when we compared the group of the vacum and the forceps.
Conclusion: With this information we concluded that both instruments are equal in regard to efficacy and safety when they are use by experimented hands and following the application criteria. Nevertheless, there is a high incidence of vaginal injuries and obstetric trauma in the newborn in the operative delivery compared with the control group without an important increase in the perinatal mortality.