Vacuum extractor (ventouse)
A device consisting of a cup (metal or soft plastic) applied to the fetal head and connected to a vacuum system (manual or electric pump) that generates negative pressure to attach it.
How it is used
It is an alternative to forceps for assisting vaginal delivery when the second stage of labor needs to be shortened, applying traction synchronized with contractions while the mother pushes.
Clinical tip
If the cup detaches ("pop-off") more than two or three times, most protocols recommend abandoning the vacuum attempt rather than persisting.
Sources
This entry is part of the Instriq catalog, researched and written per specialty from real web research -- never generated or invented without verification -- and reviewed skeptically and independently before publication. How this catalog is written.
History
Added to the catalog on 2026-10-02.
Dates derived from the project's public version-control history on GitHub, not a live collaborative edit log.