Neglected Obstructed Labor and the Need to Revive the “Dying Obstetric Art of Fetal Destructive Vaginal Operations” In the Developing Countries

Neglected obstructed labor is a major cause of feto-maternal morbidity and mortality in the developing countries [1-3]. Labor is obstructed when the presenting part of the fetus cannot progress into the birth canal despite strong uterine contractions [4]. It becomes neglected obstructed labor when the obstruction is not relieved for several hours or days. Labor that is not supervised by skilled birth attendants (unsupervised labor) begets neglected obstructed labor and this situation is still prevalent in most developing countries [5-8]. It consumes a huge amount of the scarce resources budgeted for healthcare.