Evidence-based recommendations on insertion of a balloon device to disimpact an engaged fetal head before an emergency caesarean section.

Is this guidance up to date?

June 2023: A more recent publication on this topic (IPG744) has been withdrawn, following the retraction of a paper used in committee decision making. This topic will be returning to committee for re-discussion and the schedule will be shared once confirmed. In the meantime, please refer to this particular interventional procedure (IPG515) for guidance on this topic.

Guidance development process

How we develop NICE interventional procedures guidance

Coding recommendations

The OPCS-4 code for insertion of a balloon device to disimpact an engaged fetal head prior to emergency caesarean section are:

R27.8 Other specified other operations to facilitate delivery.

The Clinical Classifications Service has advised NICE that currently these are the most suitable OPCS-4 codes to describe this procedure. The OPCS-4 classification is designed to categorise procedures for analysis and it is not always possible to identify a procedure uniquely.

Your responsibility

This guidance represents the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, healthcare professionals are expected to take this guidance fully into account, and specifically any special arrangements relating to the introduction of new interventional procedures. The guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer.

All problems (adverse events) related to a medicine or medical device used for treatment or in a procedure should be reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency using the Yellow Card Scheme.

Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to implement the guidance, in their local context, in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. Nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties. Providers should ensure that governance structures are in place to review, authorise and monitor the introduction of new devices and procedures.

Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)