Comparing Rates of Trial of Labour Attempts, VBAC Success, and Fetal and Maternal Complications Among Family Physicians and Obstetricians

Predictors of Uterine Rupture After One Previous Cesarean Section: An Unmatched Case-Control Study

Background

Uterine rupture is a rare occurrence but has catastrophic complications during pregnancy. The incidence is relatively higher in scarred uteri because there is a promotion of labor after cesarean section. There is a scarcity of evidence from low-income countries regarding the predictors of uterine rupture after trial labor.

Objective

To assess factors determining uterine rupture during labor after the previous cesarean section among mothers delivered at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from September 2017 to September 2022.

Methods

A facility-based unmatched case-control study was done by reviewing 105 patients, which included 35 cases and 70 controls in a 1:2 case-to-control ratio. The association between dependent and independent variables was sought with running binary and multivariate analyses by using the cut point of a p value < 0.05 and 95% CI.

Results

The prevalence of uterine rupture is 1.6%. The factors significantly associated with uterine rupture after trial of labor are fetal weight >3.8 kg (AOR: 5.21), antenatal care 4 (AOR: 3.6), labor duration >15 hours (AOR: 10.7), and previous successful vaginal delivery (AOR: 3.4). Poor fetal-maternal outcomes like 91.4% fetal death, 29 hysterectomies, 22 blood transfusions, and 1 death.

Conclusion

The prevalence is relatively higher than in developed countries. The number of antenatal care, labor duration, and lower fetal weight are not common findings associated with uterine rupture after trial of labor across the literature, so large-scale studies are needed to develop guidelines for the Ethiopian setup. Improving the quality of obstetrics care given in each level of health system.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes of trial of labor compared with elective cesarean delivery according to predicted likelihood of vaginal delivery

OBJECTIVE

The vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) calculator developed by the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network (MFMU) helps to identify the likelihood of VBAC. We sought to compare adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes of trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) to those of elective cesarean delivery after stratifying by VBAC likelihood.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of all women whose primary low transverse segment cesarean delivery and subsequent singleton term delivery with vertex presentation occurred at an academic center from January 2009 to June 2018. Only data from the second pregnancy were analyzed. The final analysis included 835 women. The MFMU VBAC calculator was used to assess the likelihood of VBAC. The two primary outcomes were composite adverse maternal (death or severe maternal complications) and neonatal outcomes (perinatal death or severe neonatal complications). The analyses were stratified based on the VBAC likelihood (less than 60% and 60-100%). Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), controlling for predefined covariates.

RESULTS

Among women with VBAC likelihood less than 60%, TOLAC compared with elective cesarean was associated with increased odds of the primary adverse maternal outcome (16.4% vs. 4.2%; adjusted OR 4.60 [95%CI 1.48-14.35]) and the primary adverse neonatal outcome (17.8% vs. 6.3%; adjusted OR 3.93 [95%CI 1.31-11.75]). Among women with VBAC likelihood of 60-100%, TOLAC compared with elective cesarean was associated with decreased odds of the primary adverse maternal outcome (6.4% vs. 11%; adjusted OR 0.47 [95%CI 0.25-0.89]) and similar odds of the primary adverse neonatal outcome (6.7% vs. 8.3%; adjusted OR 0.98 [95%CI 0.52-1.84]).

CONCLUSIONS

Among women with a history of a primary low transverse cesarean delivery, those who underwent TOLAC compared to those who had elective cesarean had increased odds of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes when VBAC likelihood was less than 60%.

No. 382-Trial of Labour After Caesarean

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence-based guidelines for the provision of a trial of labour after Caesarean section.

OUTCOMES

Fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality associated with vaginal birth after Caesarean and repeat Caesarean section.

EVIDENCE

MEDLINE database was searched for articles published from January 1, 1995, to October 31, 2017 using the key words "vaginal birth after Caesarean (Cesarean) section." The quality of evidence is described using the Evaluation of Evidence criteria outlined in the Report of the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Exam.

VALIDATION

These guidelines were approved by the Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee and the Board of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Adjunct clinical interventions that influence vaginal birth after cesarean rates: systematic review

Background

Rates of cesarean deliveries have been increasing, and contributes to the rising number of elective cesarean deliveries in subsequent pregnancies with associated maternal and neonatal risks. Multiple guidelines recommend that women be offered a trial of labor after a cesarean (TOLAC). The objective of the study is to systematically review the literature on adjunct clinical interventions that influence vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rates.

Methods

We searched Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Wiley Cochrane Library, CINAHL via EBSCOhost; and Ovid PsycINFO. Additional studies were identified by searching for clinical trial records, conference proceedings and dissertations. Limits were applied for language (English and French) and year of publication (1985 to present). Two reviewers independently screened comparative studies (randomized or non-randomized controlled trials, and observational designs) according to a priori eligibility criteria: women with prior cesarean sections; any adjunct clinical intervention or exposure intended to increase the VBAC rate; any comparator; and, outcomes reporting changes in TOLAC or VBAC rates. One reviewer extracted data and a second reviewer verified for accuracy. Two reviewers independently conducted methodological quality assessments using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

Results

Twenty-three studies of overall moderate to good methodological quality examined adjunct clinical interventions affecting TOLAC and/or VBAC rates: system-level interventions (three studies), provider-level interventions (three studies), guidelines or information for providers (seven studies), provider characteristics (four studies), and patient-level interventions (six studies). Provider-level interventions (opinion leader education, laborist, and obstetrician second opinion for cesarean sections) and provider characteristics (midwifery antenatal care, physicians on night float call schedules, and deliveries by family physicians) were associated with increased rates of VBAC. Few studies employing heterogeneous designs, sample sizes, interventions and comparators limited confidence in the effects. Studies of system-level and patient-level interventions, and guidelines/information for providers reported mixed findings.

Conclusions

Limited evidence indicates some provider-level interventions and provider characteristics may increase rates of attempted and successful TOLACs and/or VBACs, whereas other adjunct clinical interventions such as system-level interventions, patient-level interventions, and guidelines/information for healthcare providers show mixed findings.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-018-2065-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Caesarean section in Palestine using the Robson Ten Group Classification System: a population-based birth cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the current situation of caesarean section in Palestine using the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS).

DESIGN

A population-based birth cohort study.

SETTING

Obstetrical departments in three governmental hospitals in Gaza.

PARTICIPANTS

All women (18 908) who gave birth between 1 January 2016 and 30 April 2017.

METHODS

The contributions of each group to the study population and to the overall rate of caesarean section were calculated, as well as the rate of caesarean section in each TGCS group. Differences in proportions between study hospitals were assessed by χ² test.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcome was the contributions of each group to the overall caesarean section rate.

RESULTS

The overall rate of caesarean section was 22.9% (4337 of 18 908), ranging from 20.6% in hospital 1 to 24.6% in hospital 3. The largest contributors to the overall caesarean section rate were multiparous women with single cephalic full-term pregnancy who had undergone at least one caesarean section (group 5, 42.6%), women with multiple pregnancies (group 8, 11.6%) and those with single cephalic preterm labour (group 10, 8.1%). Statistically significant differences in caesarean section rates between the study hospitals were observed in group 1 (nulliparous women with single cephalic full-term pregnancy and spontaneous labour), group 4 (multiparous with single cephalic full-term pregnancy with induced labour or prelabour caesarean section), group 5 (multiparous with single cephalic full-term pregnancy with previous caesarean section) and in group 7 (multiparous with breech presentation).

CONCLUSION

Women in groups 5, 8 and 10 were the largest contributors to the overall caesarean section rate in the study hospitals. Efforts to reduce the differences in obstetrical care between hospitals need to be directed towards increasing the proportion of vaginal births after caesarean section and by reducing primary caesarean section in multiple pregnancies and preterm labour.

Are There Differences between Women who Choose Elective Repeat Caesarean Versus Trial of Labour in St. John's, NL?

OBJECTIVES

To compare the demographic and clinical characteristics between women who chose elective repeat Caesarean section (ERCS) versus trial of labour after Caesarean section (TOLAC) in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective case control study of women with live singleton gestations delivering at term in St. John's, NL between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2014. Inclusion criteria were women who had a previous single lower segment Caesarean section (LSCS). TOLAC, successful TOLAC, and VBAC rates were calculated. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between women who chose ERCS versus TOLAC. Univariate analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed, and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% CIs were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 1579 women were included, of whom 160 (10.1%) chose TOLAC, with 107 resulting in successful VBAC (67% successful TOLAC rate). The overall VBAC rate was 6.8%. Women who chose ERCS compared with those who chose TOLAC were more likely to be obese (aOR 3.20, 95% CI 1.85-5.54, P < 0.001), less likely to have had GA at delivery greater than 40 weeks (aOR 0.13, 95% CI 0.08-0.21, P < 0.001), less likely to have had a previous vaginal delivery (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.20-0.80, P < 0.001), and less likely to have had the previous CS for breech presentation (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33-0.80, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall TOLAC and VBAC rates in St. John's are low when compared with reported national rates. The successful TOLAC rate is within the expected range reported in the literature. Differences exist between women who chose ERCS compared with TOLAC.

Cesarean Section Rate Analysis in University Hospital Tuzla - According to Robson's Classification

Objective:

For last decades, there has public concern about increasing Cesarean Section (CS) rates, and it is an issue of international public health concern. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) there is no justification to have more than 10-15% CS births. WHO proposes the Robson ten-group classification, as a global standard for assessing, monitoring and comparing cesarean section rates. The aim of this study was to investigate Cesarean section rate at University Hospital Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods:

Cross sectional study was conducted for one-year period, 2015. Statistical analysis and graph-table presentation was performed using Excel 2010 and Microsoft Office programs.

Results:

Out of 3,672 births, a total of 936 births were performed by CS. Percentage of the total number of CS to the total birth number was 25,47%. According to Robson classification, the largest was group 5 with relative contribution of 29,80%. On second and third place were group 1 and 2 with relative contribution of 26,06% and 15,78% respectively. Groups 1, 2, 5 made account of realtive contribution of 71,65%. All other groups had entirely relative contribution of 28,35%.

Conclusion:

Robson 10-group classification provides easy way in collecting information about CS rate. It is important that efforts to reduce the overall CS rate should focus on reducing the primary CS. Data from our study confirm this attitude.

A Paradigm Shift to Check the Increasing Trend of Cesarean Delivery is the Need of Hour: But How?

OBJECTIVES

To check the progressive increasing trend of caesarean delivery in a tertiary facility care centre.

AIMS

The purpose of this study is to implement a paradigm shift in caesarean delivery by introducing a new classification system and a check list based management protocol.

METHODS

The study was conducted from 1st January, 2007 to 31st December, 2008 at CNMC G&O Department. All deliveries in the year 2007 were compared retrospectively and all deliveries in the year 2008 under prospective study with implementation of a new strategic protocol. Comparative audit and analysis of deliveries in retrospective and prospective year reveals significant changes in the caesarean delivery rate.

RESULTS

In retrospective group all women in labour were allowed for spontaneous delivery and in prospective group all women were subjected to intervention protocol and caesarean delivery done in both the groups in need for risk of fetal and maternal salvage. Incidence of caesarean delivery (CD) in retrospective group was 29 % while in the prospective group it was 18.4 %. Marked decrease in CD was observed for augmentation, induction and trial of labour (TOL) for delivery in prospective group. The result was compared with Robson's studies following similar type of classification system.

CONCLUSION

Marked improvement was noticed in this new paradigm and more multicentric trial is needed to check the increasing trend of CD.

Can a vaginal birth after cesarean delivery be a normal labor and birth? Lessons from midwifery applied to trial of labor after a previous cesarean delivery

Women who undergo a trial of labor after a previous cesarean delivery (TOLAC) have special needs prenatally and during the intrapartum period. Counseling about the choice of TOLAC versus an elective repeat cesarean delivery involves complex statistical concepts. Prenatal counseling that is patient centered, individualized, and presented in a way that addresses the health literacy and health numeracy of the recipient encompasses best practices that support patient decision making. Evidence-based practices during labor that support vaginal birth and increase patient satisfaction are of special value for this population.

Trends and patterns of vaginal birth after cesarean availability in the United States

A review of the literature and analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Database was performed to describe the trends in vaginal birth after cesarean availability in the United States and the factors associated with changing use. Vaginal birth after cesarean increased after the first National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Cesarean Childbirth in 1981. It increased from 3% to a maximum rate of 28.3% in 1996. Despite studies reporting stable success rates of approximately 70% and low complication rates (<1%), concerns about patient safety and physician liability have led to more restrictive policies and a decrease in vaginal birth after cesarean use. The current rate is approximately 8.5%, and decreased rates have been noted for all age and ethnic groups. There is decreased use of vaginal birth after cesarean as the result of concerns about patient safety and physician liability, which has resulted in decreased availability.