Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T09:05:38.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 1 - A History: Operative Delivery

from Part I - ANTEPARTUM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2010

John Patrick O'Grady ,
Martin L. Gimovsky ,
Lucy A. Bayer-Zwirello  and
Kevin Giordano
John Patrick O'Grady
Affiliation:
Tufts University, Massachusetts
Get access

Summary

Over many years, various manipulations and specialized instruments were developed to expedite delivery of viable infants or to remove the fetus and the other products of conception from the uterus in case of fetal demise or incomplete delivery. A brief historical review of the origins of operative delivery techniques increases the appreciation of modern practitioners for the complex roots of the science and art that have led to modern practice. From the inception of the operation, controversy concerning the propriety of cesarean delivery has characterized the medical literature. It was recognized very early that postmortem operations on mothers dying in labor or late in pregnancy would rarely result in a normal and surviving child. The development of atraumatic delivery instruments is a complex and fascinating part of the history of obstetrics. An important development in the use of vacuum extraction has been major improvements in practitioner education.
Type
Chapter
Information
Operative Obstetrics , pp. 1 - 21
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

O'Dowd, M, Phillip, EE: The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1994, New York: The Parthenon Publishing Group.Google Scholar
Houtzager, G: The Complete Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology. 2003, Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc.Google Scholar
Gottschalk, W: Dystocia on Mount Olympus. Obstet Gynecol 1959 Mar; 13(3): 381–2.Google Scholar
Shakespeare, W: Macbeth, 1606; V. vii. 44.
http://heraklia.fwsl.com.
http://www.perseus.Tufts.edu, 2006.
http://catholic.archives.nd.edu, 2006.
Grant, M: Julius Caesar. 1992, New York: M. Evans and Company.Google Scholar
http://www.wordorigins.org/wordorc.htm, 2006.
http://catholic.archives.nd.edu, 2006.
Baskett, TF: On the Shoulders of Giants: Eponyms and Names in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1996, London: RCOG Press.Google Scholar
Rousset, F: Traité Nouveau de l'Hystérotomokie ou l'Enfantement Caesarienne, qui Est Extraction de l'Enfant par Incision Laterale de Ventre et Matrice de la Femme Grosse. Pouvant Autrement Accoucher, et ce sans Préjudicer a la Vie de l'un de l'autre ni l'Empecher la Fécondité Maternelle par aprés. 1581, Paris: Demeys Duval.Google Scholar
Pottiee, Sperry F: Biography: François Rousset. Hist Sci Med 1996; 30(2): 259–68.
Burton, J: An Essay towards a Compleat New System of Midwifry. 1751, London: James Hodges.Google Scholar
Gordon, BL: Medieval and Renaissance Medicine. 1959, New York: Philosophical Library.Google Scholar
Mauriceau, F: Les Maladies des Femmes Grosses et Accouchées. 1668, Paris: Henavlt, D'Hovary, De Ninville and Coignard.Google Scholar
Mauriceau, F: Observations sur La Grossesse et L'Accouchement des Femmes, et sur leurs Maladies, & celles des Enfants nouveau-nez. 1715, Paris: La Compagnie des Libraires Associez.Google Scholar
Drife, J: The start of life: A history of obstetrics. Postgrad Med J 2002 May; 78(919): 311–15.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huard, P: sciences, Medicine, Pharmacie de la Revolution a l'Empire (1790–1815). 1970, Paris: Les Editions Roger Dacosta.Google Scholar
Speert, H: Obstetrics and Gynecology in America. 1980, Washington, D. C.: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Google Scholar
Chipfakacha, V: Abdominal deliveries in Africa: Food for thought to scholars of the history of medicine. Cent Afr J Med 1989 Feb; 35(2): 333–6.Google Scholar
Cutter, IS, Viets, HR: A Short History of Midwifery. 1964, Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company.Google Scholar
Mola, G: Symphysiotomy or caesarean section after failed trial of assisted delivery. P N G Med J 1995 Sep; 38(3): 172–7.Google Scholar
Roosmalen, J: Symphysiotomy – a reappraisal for the developing world. In Progress in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, J. Studd Editor. 1991, Edinburgh: Churchill-Livingstone. pp. 149–62.Google Scholar
Lauverjat, T-E: Nouvelle Méthode de Practiquer L'Opération Césarienne, et Parallèlel de cette Opération & de la Section de la Symphyse des Os Pubis. Paris, 1788: pp. 150–1.Google Scholar
Sänger, M: Der Kaiserschmitt. Arch Gynakol 1882; 19: 370.
Porro, E: Della amputazione utero-ovarica come complemento di taglio Cesario. Ann Univ Med Chirurg 1876; 273: 289–350.
Lurie, S, Glezerman, M: The history of cesarean technique. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003 Dec; 189(6): 1803–06.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waters, E: Retrovesical extraperitoneal cesarean section. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1940; 39: 423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norton, J: Latzko extraperitoneal caesarean section. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1935; 30: 209.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Das, K: Obstetric Forceps: Its History and Evolution. 1929, Calcutta: The Art Press.Google Scholar
O'Grady, J: Modern Instrumental Delivery. 1988, Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.Google Scholar
Radcliffe, W: Milestones in Midwifery and the Secret Instrument. 1989, San Francisco: Norman Publishing.Google Scholar
Speert, H: The obstetric forceps. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1960 Sep; 3: 761–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Drinkwater, K: The midwifery forceps: Historical sketch. Med Chir J 1913; 64: 451–65.
Hibbard, B: The Obstetrician's Armamentarium. 2000, San Anselmo, CA: Norman Publishing.Google Scholar
Speert, H: Obstetrics and Gynecology: A History and Iconography. 1994, San Francisco: Norman Publishing.Google Scholar
Thiery, M: Obstetric forceps and vectus: The roots. Acta Belg Hist Med 1992 Mar; 5(1): 4–20.
Shute W: Management of shoulder dystocia with the Shute parallel forceps. Am J Obstet Gynecol Oct 1; 84: 936–9.
Seidenschnur, G, Koepcke, E: Fetal risk in delivery with the Shute parallel forceps: Analysis of 1,503 forceps deliveries. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1979 Oct 1; 135(3): 312–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shute, W: An obstetrical forceps which uses new principle of parallelism. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1959 Feb; 72(2): 442–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dewhurst, J: Royal Confinements: A Gynaecological History of Britain's Royal Family. 1980, New York: St. Martin's Press.Google Scholar
Duns, S: A Memoir of Sir James Y. Simpson. 1873, Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas. p. 288.Google Scholar
Chalmers, J: James Young Simpson and the “suction tractor.” J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw 1963; 70: 94–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luikart, R: A modification of the Kielland, Simpson and Tucker-McLane forceps to simplify their use and improve function and safety. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1937; 34: 686.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeLee, J: The prophylactic forceps operation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1920; 1: 34–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Grady, J, Gimovsky, ML, McIlhargie, CJ: Vacuum Extraction in Modern Obstetric Practice. 1995, New York: Parthenon Publishing Group Inc.Google Scholar
Younge, J: An account of balls of hair taken from the uterus and ovaria of several women. Philos Trans R Soc (London)1706–1707; 25: 2387.
Arnott, N: Elements of Physics, or Natural Philosophy, General and Medical, Explained Independently of Technical Mathematics, and Containing New Disquisitions and Practical Suggestions, Vol 1. p. 543. 1831, Philadelphia: Carey and Lea.
Simpson, J: On suction tractor or new mechanical power as a substitute for forceps in tedious labours. Edinburgh Monthly J Med Sci 1849; 32: 556–8.Google Scholar
Eustace, D: James Young Simpson: The controversy surrounding the presentation of his Air Tractor (1848–849). J R Soc Med 1993 Nov; 86(11): 660–3.Google Scholar
Malmström, T: The vacuum extractor: An obstetrical instrument. I. and the parturiometer, a tokographic device. II. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1957; 36(Suppl): 5–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malmström, T, Jansson, I: Use of vacuum extractor. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1965; 8: 893–913.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sjostedt, J: The vacuum extractor and forceps in obstetrics: A clinical study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1967; 46(Suppl 10): 1–208.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bird, G: Modification of Malmström vacuum extractor. Br Med J: Online 1969; 3: 526–9.Google Scholar
Vacca, A: Handbook of Vacuum Extraction in Obstetric Practice. 1992, London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
O'Neil, A, Skull, E, Michael, C: A new method of traction for the vacuum cup. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 1981 Feb; 21(1): 24–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Grady, J, Pope, CS, Patel, SS: Vacuum extraction in modern obstetric practice: A review and critique. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2000 Dec; 12(6): 475–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elliott, B, Ridgway, LF, Berkus, MD, Newton, ER, Peairs, W: The development and testing of new instruments for operative vaginal delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992 Oct; 167(4 Pt 1): 1121–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Demissie, K, Rhoads, GG, Smulian, JC, Balasubramanian, BA, Gandhi, K, Joseph, KS, Kramer, M: Operative vaginal delivery and neonatal and infant adverse outcomes: Population-based retrospective analysis. Br Med J 2004 Jul 3; 329(7456): 24–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×