Disquiet concerning cesarean birth.

Cesarean birth has increased substantially in many parts of the world over recent decades and concerns have been raised about the propriety of this change in obstetric practice. Sometimes, a cesarean is necessary to preserve fetal and maternal health. But in balancing the risks of surgical intervention the implicit assumption has been that cesarean birth is an equivalent alternative to vaginal birth from the standpoint of the immediate and long-term health of the fetus and neonate. Increasingly, we realize this is not necessarily so. Delivery mode per se may influence short-term and abiding problems with homeostasis in offspring, quite independent of the indications for the delivery and other potentially confounding factors. The probability of developing various disorders, including respiratory compromise, obesity, immune dysfunction, and neurobehavioral disorders has been shown in some studies to be higher among individuals born by cesarean. Moreover, many of these adverse effects are not confined to the neonatal period and may develop over many years. Although the associations between delivery mode and long-term health are persuasive, their pathogenesis and causality remain uncertain. Full exploration and a clear understanding of these relationships is of great importance to the health of offspring.

Simplified and standardized intrapartum management can yield high rates of successful VBAC in spontaneous labor.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the outcomes of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in women, in spontaneous labor, delivering after 37 weeks' gestation at an institution where trial of labor after a previous cesarean delivery (TOLAC) is encouraged and management of labor is standardized. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 3071 women with one previous cesarean only and no vaginal delivery who underwent a trial of labor from 2001 to 2011. Women were managed using the standardized "active management of labor" intrapartum protocol. Outcomes and characteristics of women who delivered vaginally were compared with those who required cesarean delivery. RESULTS: In spontaneous labor in their second pregnancy, those who attempted TOLAC had a 72.5% (1611/2222) rate of successful VBAC. Women who had a successful VBAC had smaller babies (3584 ± 452 g versus 3799 ± 489 g; p < 0.0001) at earlier gestations than those who had a repeat intrapartum cesarean delivery. They also required less intrapartum intervention, such as oxytocin augmentation (14.5% [234/1611] versus 41% [251/611]; p < 0.0001) and epidural anesthesia (64.8% [1044/1611] versus 82.8% [506/611]; p < 0.0001). The rate of uterine rupture was 0.54% (12/2222), while the rate of peri-partum hysterectomy was 0.18% (4/2222). CONCLUSION: This study shows that serious complications associated with TOLAC are rare providing intrapartum care and decision-making is made simple for the benefit of staff and patients alike. This is achieved through a standardized labor management protocol.

Robson Ten Group Classification System applied to women with severe maternal morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the distribution of women with severe maternal morbidity according to Robson Ten Group Classification System (RTGCS). METHODS: Secondary analysis of a multicenter cross-sectional study in 27 obstetric units in Brazil, using RTGCS. Cases were classified into potentially life-threatening condition or a maternal near miss or death, according to severity. Certain groups were subdivided for further analysis. Cesarean delivery (CD) rates were reported. RESULTS: Among 7,247 women with severe maternal morbidity, 73.2 percent underwent CD. Group 10 (single, cephalic, preterm) was the most prevalent (33.9%). Groups mostly associated with a severe maternal outcome were: 7 (multiparous, breech), 9 (all abnormal lies, single, term), 8 (all multiple), and 10. Groups 1 (nulliparous, single, cephalic, term, spontaneous) and 3 (multiparous, single, cephalic, term, spontaneous) were associated with better maternal outcome. Group 3 had one severe maternal morbidity to 29 cases of potentially life-threatening, but the ratio was 1:10 for women undergoing CD, indicating a worse outcome. Group 4a (multiparous, no previous CD, single, cephalic, term, induced labor) had a better maternal outcome than those delivered by CD before labor (group 4b). Hypertension was the most common condition of severity. CONCLUSIONS: The RTGCS was useful to consider severe maternal morbidity, showing groups with higher CD rates and worse maternal outcomes.

Mode of delivery and outcomes by birth weight among spontaneous and induced singleton cephalic nulliparous labors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of birth weight on mode of delivery among nulliparous women in a setting with no policy of elective induction for suspected macrosomia. METHODS: In an observational study, data were assessed from nulliparous women with a single cephalic pregnancy of at least 37 weeks in spontaneous (Robson group 1) and induced (Robson group 2a) labor attending a hospital in Dublin, Ireland, between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. The primary outcome measure was mode of delivery. RESULTS: A total of 7528 nulliparous labors were included (4989 in group 1 and 2539 in group 2a). The cesarean section rate was 15.1% overall (n=1139), with 411 (8.2%) in group 1, and 728 (28.7%) in group 2a. Cesarean delivery rates rose with increasing birth weight in group 1, from 119 (6.3%) of 1886 infants weighing 3000-3499 g and 160 (8.5%) of 1892 weighing 3500-3999 g, to 19 (26.8%) of 71 weighing 4500-4999 g. Rates of cesarean delivery were significantly higher in induced labor (group 2a) for each birth-weight category, ranging from 202 (25.9%) of 781 weighing 3000-3499 g and 243 (27.0%) of 899 weighing 3500-3999 g, to 38 (48.1%) of 79 weighing 4500-4999 g (P<0.01 for all). CONCLUSION: In a setting with standardized management of labor, birth weight remains a significant determinant of mode of delivery.

Obstetric anal sphincter injury, risk factors and method of delivery - an 8-year analysis across two tertiary referral centers.

OBJECTIVE: Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) represents a major cause of maternal morbidity and is a risk factor for the development of fecal incontinence. We set out to analyze the incidence of OASIS and its association with mode of delivery in two large obstetric hospitals across an 8-year study period. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study carried out at two large tertiary referral centers serving a single urban population, from 2003 to 2010. Incidence of OASIS was examined as well as the influence of parity and mode of delivery on the occurrence of OASIS. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 100 307 vaginal deliveries at the two hospitals. There was a total of 2121 cases of OASIS from 2003 to 2010, giving an incidence of 2.1% of vaginal deliveries. Patients were more likely to suffer an OASIS when having a forceps delivery than when having a normal vaginal delivery (8.6% versus 1.3%, p < 0.0001, OR: 7.1, CI: 6.4-7.9). Vacuum delivery also carried an increased risk of sphincter injury compared with normal delivery (3.7% versus 1.3%, p < 0.0001, OR: 2.9, CI: 2-2.6). About 16.7% of infants delivered were macrosomic (birthweight > 4 kg). The rate of episiotomy during the study was 19.1%. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that OASIS remains an important cause of maternal morbidity in contemporary obstetric practice. These results will likely be of value in risk management planning and patient debriefing in what is a highly litigious area of obstetrics.

Early and late preterm delivery rates - a comparison of differing tocolytic policies in a single urban population.

OBJECTIVE: Preterm delivery results in neonatal morbidity and mortality. We set out to estimate the difference in rates of preterm delivery in two institutions, serving a single population, with differing policies regarding use of tocolytic drugs for the prevention of preterm delivery. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study comparing preterm delivery rates between 2002 and 2007 in two large tertiary hospitals serving a single urban population with similar risk factor profile located less than 2 miles from each other. During the study period Hospital A routinely used tocolytic therapy, Hospital B operates a policy of never using any tocolytic drugs. Rates of delivery prior to 26, 30, 34 and 37 weeks were compared for each hospital. RESULTS: During the study period there were 90,843 deliveries between the two hospitals. The overall rates of preterm delivery at less than 37 weeks gestation were comparable with 6.62% (2794/42,232) in Hospital A and 6.15% (2989/48,611) in Hospital B (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference in the numbers delivering at less than 34 weeks, 995/42,232 (2.36%) versus 1134/48,611 (2.33%), p = 0.59, less than 30 weeks, 403/42,232 (0.95%) versus 429/48,611 (0.88%), p = 0.87 or prior to 26 weeks, 126/42,232 (0.29%) versus 121/48,611 (0.25%), p= 0.08. CONCLUSION: In this large population routine use of tocolytic drugs in the treatment of threatened preterm labor does not alter rates of early or late preterm delivery. While this study is limited by its retrospective nature, it calls into question the practice of tocolysis.

The singleton, cephalic, nulliparous woman after 36 weeks of gestation: contribution to overall cesarean delivery rates.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the contribution of singleton, cephalic, term (37 weeks or later) nulliparous cesarean rates to overall cesarean incidence in a single institution during a 35-year period. METHODS: Cesarean rates were examined for 1974, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2005, and 2008, applying a 10-group classification system. Groups 1 (spontaneously laboring, term nulliparous women) and 2 (prelabor cesarean and induced term nulliparous women) were combined as a composite variable-the term, singleton, cephalic nulliparous woman. RESULTS: Overall and term, singleton, cephalic nulliparous cesarean rates correlated throughout the 35-year period (r=0.93, P<.001). Between 1974 and 2008, overall cesarean rates increased from 5% to 19.1% and from 4.4% to 15.8% among term, singleton, cephalic nulliparous women. Term, singleton, cephalic nulliparous inductions increased from 19.7% to 32.7% (P<.001) and the intrapartum cesarean rate in term, singleton, cephalic nulliparous inductions rose from 4.1% to 27.3%. The cesarean rate in group 1 increased from 2.3% to 7.2%. CONCLUSION: The increase in term, singleton, cephalic nulliparous cesarean rates correlated with the increase in overall cesarean rates throughout 35 years in an institution with standard management of labor. This relationship was due to an increase in both the incidence and rate of cesarean delivery within term, singleton, cephalic nulliparous inductions. Examination of the different term, singleton, cephalic nullipara components (spontaneous labor, induction, or prelabor cesarean) can help to identify major variations in practice between institutions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Comparative analysis of international cesarean delivery rates using 10-group classification identifies significant variation in spontaneous labor.

OBJECTIVE: Cesarean section (CS) rates continue to rise throughout the developed world. The aim of this study was to highlight variations in obstetric populations and practices and to identify variations in CS rates in different institutions. STUDY DESIGN: Data from 9 institutional cohorts (total, 47,402; range, 1962-7985) from 9 different countries were examined using a 10-group classification system based on 4 characteristics of every pregnancy, namely single/multiple, nulliparity/multiparity, multiparity with CS scar, spontaneous/induced labor onset and term (>or=37 weeks) gestation. RESULTS: Overall CS rates correlated with CS rates in singleton cephalic nullipara (r = 0.992; P < .001). Whereas CS rates in induced labor were similar, greatest institutional variation were seen in spontaneously laboring multiparas (6.7-fold difference) and nulliparas (3.7-fold difference). CONCLUSION: Ten-group analysis of international obstetric cesarean practice identifies wide variations in women in spontaneous cephalic term labor, a low-risk cohort amenable to effective intrapartum corrective intervention.

Trends in intrapartum fetal death, 1979-2003.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to analyze trends in intrapartum fetal death and rates of perinatal autopsy over a 25-year period in Dublin, Ireland. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter analysis of 508,342 nonanomalous infants 500 g or more, delivering in 3 tertiary-referral university institutions between 1979-2003. RESULTS: There has been a significant downward trend in the rate of intrapartum fetal death over the past 25 years (P < .0001). Nulliparous labors were statistically more likely to be complicated by an intrapartum fetal demise than parous labors (odds ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.92; P = .0018). Intrapartum deaths secondary to hypoxia fell significantly over the study period (P < .0001). Infants of multiple gestations were twice as likely to die in labor as singletons (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.22-3.74; P = .0058). Rates of perinatal autopsy fell significantly over the 25 years studied (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: There has been a significant fall in rates of intrapartum fetal death. This has primarily resulted from a reduction in deaths attributable to intrapartum hypoxia. Infants of multiple gestations still retain a significantly higher chance of intrapartum death. The fall in uptake rates of perinatal autopsy in recent years is concerning.

Maternal body mass index in the first trimester and risk of cesarean delivery in nulliparous women in spontaneous labor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of maternal body mass index (BMI) on the incidence of cesarean delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study of 4341 consecutive nulliparous women with a single cephalic presentation, and spontaneous onset of labor between 37 and 42 weeks gestation at High Wycombe General Hospital, London, between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2000. RESULTS: The incidence of cesarean delivery rose significantly with an increase in BMI. Women in labor with a BMI > 35 had a 3.8 times greater chance of a cesarean delivery than women with a BMI < 25 (after adjustment for variables such as maternal height and age, gestational age, fetal birthweight, and use of oxytocin and epidural analgesia during labor). This was true for cesarean deliveries performed for suspected fetal distress as well as for failure to progress. CONCLUSION: A high BMI significantly increased the risk of cesarean delivery, but the reasons are not certain.