The field of Obstetrician is one field i hold in great awe because they are one of the first doctors involved when you visit the world . Be it the Caeaserean section or the vaginal delivery they are around . During my O and G postings (Obstetrics and Gynaecology postings ) there was one "object " which fascinated me . It was seldom used ( i think saw once only ) but learning about its history i felt it as great as a caeserean section but which looked quite simple in looks . And some more history searching showed it was a "secret " of royal obstetricians .
It was the "forceps ". When the future king of france or Englands life is at stake when he is stuck in the birth canal this simple looking secret was a life saver . It was invented by the Royal obstetricians centuries back . Science unlike art doesnt say "old is gold " . But for me even in those days i felt the forceps especially the ones used for more complicated manouevres in the past had more stories to tell of lives saved when many a foetus from the beggars child to the queens child got stuck in the birth canal.
Times changed the vacuum instrument and Caeserean section made forceps almost extinct except the occasional delivery by outlet forceps . And times also changed with the patient replaced by the consumer . And the poor forceps must be happy that he retired in grace because for the thousands of stuck children it saved there were few complications like deadly bleeds which occured in 4/10000 cases .
And with one of the higher malpractice claims among specialties both in US and india currently i still would like to do time travelling one day to see how that era was where obstetricians were Gods (goddesses ) and forceps was one of the reigning armament in saving lives .
It was the "forceps ". When the future king of france or Englands life is at stake when he is stuck in the birth canal this simple looking secret was a life saver . It was invented by the Royal obstetricians centuries back . Science unlike art doesnt say "old is gold " . But for me even in those days i felt the forceps especially the ones used for more complicated manouevres in the past had more stories to tell of lives saved when many a foetus from the beggars child to the queens child got stuck in the birth canal.
Times changed the vacuum instrument and Caeserean section made forceps almost extinct except the occasional delivery by outlet forceps . And times also changed with the patient replaced by the consumer . And the poor forceps must be happy that he retired in grace because for the thousands of stuck children it saved there were few complications like deadly bleeds which occured in 4/10000 cases .
And with one of the higher malpractice claims among specialties both in US and india currently i still would like to do time travelling one day to see how that era was where obstetricians were Gods (goddesses ) and forceps was one of the reigning armament in saving lives .
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