ABSTRACT
A survey of staff attitudes and knowledge about vaginal birth after Caesarean section (VBAC) was undertaken in Australian hospitals. There was a high response rate (67%), and over 900 responses were analysed. Generally, there was a high level of awareness about outcomes and the relative importance of many issues in considering VBAC. Registrars, consultants and midwives differed significantly in some aspects of their knowledge and attitudes to VBAC. There was also a wide range of opinion within each group. Approximately half (53%) of respondents believed patients should be actively encouraged to consider VBAC, whereas 47% felt it should be simply presented as an option.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Medical Staff, Hospital/psychology , Nurse Midwives/psychology , Vaginal Birth after Cesarean , Australia , Female , Humans , Medical Staff, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Nurse Midwives/statistics & numerical data , Pregnancy , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Retrospective analysis of medical records and individual case review was undertaken at 11 major obstetric hospitals for a 5 year period from July 1992 to June 1997 to investigate rates of vaginal birth after Caesarean section (VBAC), the occurrences of uterine rupture, and the outcomes for mother and infant following rupture. Total deliveries were 234,015, of which 21,452 or 9.2% were associated with one or more previous Caesarean sections. Within this scar group, 5419 patients or 25.3% were delivered vaginally. There were 62 cases of significant uterine rupture with no maternal deaths. Perinatal mortality with rupture was 25% and serious maternal complications (usually hysterectomy) occurred in 25% of those with uterine rupture. In women attempting vaginal delivery after a previous lower segment Caesarean section, the uterine rupture rate was estimated at 0.3%, with 0.05% experiencing a perinatal death and 0.05% requiring a hysterectomy. Although VBAC rates in Australia remain lower than many overseas reported series, rates are increasing. While rupture continues to be associated with serious adverse outcomes, the incidence of rupture during trial of labour is low and appears to be associated with a better outcome than rupture of an unscarred uterus.
