Obstetric procedures

Abstract

Human childbirth is a natural process but it is not always smooth and successful. Hence, several important obstetric surgical procedures and instruments were invented to assist difficult childbirth, such as caesarean section, forceps and vacuum vaginal delivery, external cephalic version, and vaginal breech delivery. The indications, the procedures, and the complications of these commonly practised obstetric surgeries are reviewed in this chapter. Other commonly performed procedures for normal labour such as episiotomy, repair of perineal tear, routine controlled cord traction for the delivery of the placenta in the third stage of labour, and manual removal of retained placenta will also be discussed.