Failed forceps

Abstract

Careful analysis of recent Eeports of our Dublin Maternity Plospitals would indicate that a further effort should be made to reduce the incidence of badly failed forceps. Better instruction of students and recently qualified men is the first step. They should be advised to confine their domiciliary forceps deliveries to the low or outlet operation and they should have an accurate knowledge of the conditions which must be fulfilled for safe application and delivery. They should learn not only when to apply forceps, but when not to. They should be able to recognise the clinical features of potential disproportion in their late antenatal examination of patients and during the course of labour. They should be able to diagnose abnormal cephalic presentations and hydrocephalus. They should remember to examine their patients thoroughly before attempting to apply forceps. Young doctors who propose to undertake the practice of obstetrics should have adequate postgraduate maternity hospital training. The limitation of the number of students taking medical qualifications will facilitate postgraduate instruction. In this city, ex-Masters of Maternity Hospitals should be provided with clinical teaching facilities.