Labor trials in 300 patients with a previous cesarean section

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of labor in patients with a previous uncomplicated cesarean section in the Obstetrics Department at a University Hospital.

Material and methods

We performed an observational, longitudinal, prospective, descriptive, non-blind, comparative study of patients with a history of previous cesarean sections who attended a tertiary care teaching hospital in northeastern México for the care of their pregnancy from March 2013 to July 2014, where they were monitored during labor. A descriptive statistic, with a p-value significance and a Chi-squared analysis, was applied.

Results

Three hundred patients attended the hospital, with 119 (39.6%) vaginal deliveries and 181 (60.3%) C-sections. The most common indication of a previous cesarean section was a narrow pelvic outlet in 59 patients (19.6%). There were more vaginal births in patients with cervical dilatation >4 cm and previous vaginal births. Fetal weight >3500 g, absence of previous vaginal birth, cervical dilatation <3.5 cm and gestational age >40 weeks increase the risk of a cesarean section.

Conclusion

Labor in women with uncomplicated previous cesarean sections is a useful clinical behavior, allowing an uncomplicated delivery in 39.6% of cases.