Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery

Mark B. Landon; John C. Hauth; Kenneth J. Leveno; Catherine Y. Spong; Sharon Leindecker; Michael W. Varner; Atef H. Moawad; Steve N. Caritis; Margaret Harper; Ronald J. Wapner; Yoram Sorokin; Menachem Miodovnik; Marshall Carpenter; Alan M. Peaceman; Mary Jo O'Sullivan; Baha Sibai; Oded Langer; John M. Thorp; Susan M. Ramin; Brian M. Mercer; Steven G. Gabbe

doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040405

Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery

Mark B. Landon, John C. Hauth, Kenneth J. Leveno, Catherine Y. Spong, Sharon Leindecker, Michael W. Varner, Atef H. Moawad, Steve N. Caritis, Margaret Harper, Ronald J. Wapner, Yoram Sorokin, Menachem Miodovnik, Marshall Carpenter, Alan M. Peaceman, Mary Jo O'Sullivan, Baha Sibai, Oded Langer, John M. Thorp, Susan M. Ramin, Brian M. MercerSteven G. Gabbe

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The proportion of women who attempt vaginal delivery after prior cesarean delivery has decreased largely because of concern about safety. The absolute and relative risks associated with a trial of labor in women with a history of cesarean delivery, as compared with elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, are uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a prospective four-year observational study of all women with a singleton gestation and a prior cesarean delivery at 19 academic medical centers. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between women who underwent a trial of labor and women who had an elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. RESULTS: Vaginal delivery was attempted by 17,898 women, and 15,801 women underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. Symptomatic uterine rupture occurred in 124 women who underwent a trial of labor (0.7 percent). Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurred in no infants whose mothers underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery and in 12 infants born at term whose mothers underwent a trial of labor (P<0.001). Seven of these cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy followed uterine rupture (absolute risk, 0.46 per 1000 women at term undergoing a trial of labor), including two neonatal deaths. The rate of endometritis was higher in women undergoing a trial of labor than in women undergoing repeated elective cesarean delivery (2.9 percent vs. 1.8 percent), as was the rate of blood transfusion (1.7 percent vs. 1.0 percent). The frequency of hysterectomy and of maternal death did not differ significantly between groups (0.2 percent vs. 0.3 percent, and 0.02 percent vs. 0.04 percent, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery is associated with a greater perinatal risk than is elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, although absolute risks are low. This information is relevant for counseling women about their choices after a cesarean section.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	2581-2589
Number of pages	9
Journal	New England Journal of Medicine
Volume	351
Issue number	25
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa040405
State	Published - Dec 16 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Medicine

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10.1056/NEJMoa040405

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Landon, M. B., Hauth, J. C., Leveno, K. J., Spong, C. Y., Leindecker, S., Varner, M. W., Moawad, A. H., Caritis, S. N., Harper, M., Wapner, R. J., Sorokin, Y., Miodovnik, M., Carpenter, M., Peaceman, A. M., O'Sullivan, M. J., Sibai, B., Langer, O., Thorp, J. M., Ramin, S. M., ... Gabbe, S. G. (2004). Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery. New England Journal of Medicine, 351(25), 2581-2589. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa040405

Landon, MB, Hauth, JC, Leveno, KJ, Spong, CY, Leindecker, S, Varner, MW, Moawad, AH, Caritis, SN, Harper, M, Wapner, RJ, Sorokin, Y, Miodovnik, M, Carpenter, M, Peaceman, AM, O'Sullivan, MJ, Sibai, B, Langer, O, Thorp, JM, Ramin, SM, Mercer, BM & Gabbe, SG 2004, 'Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery', New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 351, no. 25, pp. 2581-2589. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa040405

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title = "Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: The proportion of women who attempt vaginal delivery after prior cesarean delivery has decreased largely because of concern about safety. The absolute and relative risks associated with a trial of labor in women with a history of cesarean delivery, as compared with elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, are uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a prospective four-year observational study of all women with a singleton gestation and a prior cesarean delivery at 19 academic medical centers. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between women who underwent a trial of labor and women who had an elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. RESULTS: Vaginal delivery was attempted by 17,898 women, and 15,801 women underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. Symptomatic uterine rupture occurred in 124 women who underwent a trial of labor (0.7 percent). Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurred in no infants whose mothers underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery and in 12 infants born at term whose mothers underwent a trial of labor (P<0.001). Seven of these cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy followed uterine rupture (absolute risk, 0.46 per 1000 women at term undergoing a trial of labor), including two neonatal deaths. The rate of endometritis was higher in women undergoing a trial of labor than in women undergoing repeated elective cesarean delivery (2.9 percent vs. 1.8 percent), as was the rate of blood transfusion (1.7 percent vs. 1.0 percent). The frequency of hysterectomy and of maternal death did not differ significantly between groups (0.2 percent vs. 0.3 percent, and 0.02 percent vs. 0.04 percent, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery is associated with a greater perinatal risk than is elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, although absolute risks are low. This information is relevant for counseling women about their choices after a cesarean section.",

author = "Landon, {Mark B.} and Hauth, {John C.} and Leveno, {Kenneth J.} and Spong, {Catherine Y.} and Sharon Leindecker and Varner, {Michael W.} and Moawad, {Atef H.} and Caritis, {Steve N.} and Margaret Harper and Wapner, {Ronald J.} and Yoram Sorokin and Menachem Miodovnik and Marshall Carpenter and Peaceman, {Alan M.} and O'Sullivan, {Mary Jo} and Baha Sibai and Oded Langer and Thorp, {John M.} and Ramin, {Susan M.} and Mercer, {Brian M.} and Gabbe, {Steven G.}",

year = "2004",

month = dec,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1056/NEJMoa040405",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "351",

pages = "2581--2589",

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T1 - Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery

AU - Landon, Mark B.

AU - Hauth, John C.

AU - Leveno, Kenneth J.

AU - Spong, Catherine Y.

AU - Leindecker, Sharon

AU - Varner, Michael W.

AU - Moawad, Atef H.

AU - Caritis, Steve N.

AU - Harper, Margaret

AU - Wapner, Ronald J.

AU - Sorokin, Yoram

AU - Miodovnik, Menachem

AU - Carpenter, Marshall

AU - Peaceman, Alan M.

AU - O'Sullivan, Mary Jo

AU - Sibai, Baha

AU - Langer, Oded

AU - Thorp, John M.

AU - Ramin, Susan M.

AU - Mercer, Brian M.

AU - Gabbe, Steven G.

PY - 2004/12/16

Y1 - 2004/12/16

N2 - BACKGROUND: The proportion of women who attempt vaginal delivery after prior cesarean delivery has decreased largely because of concern about safety. The absolute and relative risks associated with a trial of labor in women with a history of cesarean delivery, as compared with elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, are uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a prospective four-year observational study of all women with a singleton gestation and a prior cesarean delivery at 19 academic medical centers. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between women who underwent a trial of labor and women who had an elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. RESULTS: Vaginal delivery was attempted by 17,898 women, and 15,801 women underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. Symptomatic uterine rupture occurred in 124 women who underwent a trial of labor (0.7 percent). Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurred in no infants whose mothers underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery and in 12 infants born at term whose mothers underwent a trial of labor (P<0.001). Seven of these cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy followed uterine rupture (absolute risk, 0.46 per 1000 women at term undergoing a trial of labor), including two neonatal deaths. The rate of endometritis was higher in women undergoing a trial of labor than in women undergoing repeated elective cesarean delivery (2.9 percent vs. 1.8 percent), as was the rate of blood transfusion (1.7 percent vs. 1.0 percent). The frequency of hysterectomy and of maternal death did not differ significantly between groups (0.2 percent vs. 0.3 percent, and 0.02 percent vs. 0.04 percent, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery is associated with a greater perinatal risk than is elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, although absolute risks are low. This information is relevant for counseling women about their choices after a cesarean section.

AB - BACKGROUND: The proportion of women who attempt vaginal delivery after prior cesarean delivery has decreased largely because of concern about safety. The absolute and relative risks associated with a trial of labor in women with a history of cesarean delivery, as compared with elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, are uncertain. METHODS: We conducted a prospective four-year observational study of all women with a singleton gestation and a prior cesarean delivery at 19 academic medical centers. Maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared between women who underwent a trial of labor and women who had an elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. RESULTS: Vaginal delivery was attempted by 17,898 women, and 15,801 women underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor. Symptomatic uterine rupture occurred in 124 women who underwent a trial of labor (0.7 percent). Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy occurred in no infants whose mothers underwent elective repeated cesarean delivery and in 12 infants born at term whose mothers underwent a trial of labor (P<0.001). Seven of these cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy followed uterine rupture (absolute risk, 0.46 per 1000 women at term undergoing a trial of labor), including two neonatal deaths. The rate of endometritis was higher in women undergoing a trial of labor than in women undergoing repeated elective cesarean delivery (2.9 percent vs. 1.8 percent), as was the rate of blood transfusion (1.7 percent vs. 1.0 percent). The frequency of hysterectomy and of maternal death did not differ significantly between groups (0.2 percent vs. 0.3 percent, and 0.02 percent vs. 0.04 percent, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery is associated with a greater perinatal risk than is elective repeated cesarean delivery without labor, although absolute risks are low. This information is relevant for counseling women about their choices after a cesarean section.

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Maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor after prior cesarean delivery

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