Cerebral infarction is a rare complication following a vacuum-assisted delivery occurring
on the side of the vacuum application and often accompanied by a cephalhematoma. We
report a case of cerebral infarction that was contralateral to the side of the vacuum
application in a term baby. The baby presented with seizures in the immediate neonatal
period. There was no fracture of the skull to account for a contusion injury. We discuss
the mechanisms of intracranial vascular injuries during the process of natural and
assisted birth.
KEYWORDS
Cerebral infarction - contralateral - vacuum
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Manoj KumarM.B.B.S. M.D.
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Room 4G40
McMaster Children's Hospital, 1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4J9