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

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.