Insertion of a balloon device to disimpact an engaged fetal head before an emergency caesarean section

September 2024: We have withdrawn this guidance. This is because the main evidence that the guidance was based on has been retracted by the journal.

New NICE interventional procedures guidance is in development and the expected publication date is April 2025. Please see NICE's in-development webpage on balloon disimpaction of the baby’s head at emergency caesarean during the second stage of labour.

In the meantime, please read the NIHR updated process to oversee the safe introduction of new procedures (PDF only).