Caring for community members during the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a statewide survey.

Aim: Community health workers (CHWs) and home visitors (HVs) are members of the public health workforce who are uniquely poised to support vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we assess the experiences of CHWs and HVs in Wisconsin during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic to learn about their experiences related to mitigation strategies and vaccination efforts. Subject and methods: Working closely with community partners, we recruited CHWs and HVs via email to complete an online survey between June 24 and August 10, 2021. Participants were eligible if they worked at any time since March 25, 2020, when the Safer at Home Order was put into place. The survey asked CHWs and HVs about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination efforts. Results: Eligible respondents included 48 HVs and 26 CHWs. Most CHWs (96%) and HVs (85%) reported discussing the COVID-19 vaccine with clients, and 46% of HVs and 85% of CHWs said they planned to encourage their clients to vaccinate themselves against COVID-19. We found that many CHWs and HVs identified the COVID-19 pandemic as a threat to the health of the US population, and many reported that they thought mitigation strategies were effective at keeping people safe from COVID-19. There was inconsistency in regard to respondents plans to encourage their clients to receive vaccination for COVID-19. Conclusion: Future study, training, and support for CHWs and HVs should focus on facilitating vaccination efforts and other emerging public health interventions.

Lifetime cost-effectiveness of trial of labor after cesarean in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of a trial of labor after one previous cesarean (TOLAC) when incorporating long-term events and outcomes. METHODS: A Markov model comparing TOLAC with elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) was developed for a hypothetical cohort with no contraindication to a TOLAC. Women were selected from a prospective study to derive probability estimates for potential events through three subsequent pregnancies. Probabilities for cerebral palsy and stress urinary incontinence, cost data, and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were obtained from the literature. The primary outcome was cost-effectiveness measured as the marginal cost per QALY gained, with a $50,000 threshold per QALY used to define cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: The TOLAC strategy dominated the ERCD strategy at baseline, with $164.2 million saved and 500 QALYs gained per 100,000 women. The model was sensitive to six variables: the probability of uterine rupture and successful TOLAC among women with no prior vaginal delivery, the frequency of stress urinary incontinence, and the costs of failed TOLAC, successful TOLAC, and ERCD. When the probability of TOLAC success was at the base value, 67.2%, TOLAC was preferred if the probability of uterine rupture was 3.1% or less. When the probability of uterine rupture was at the base value, 0.8%, the TOLAC strategy was preferred as long as the probability of success was 47.2% or more. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the base-case analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Under baseline circumstances, TOLAC is less expensive and more effective than an ERCD when considering long-term consequences when the likelihood of success is 47.2% or more.

Activity restriction among women with a short cervix.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate determinants of and outcomes associated with activity restriction among women with a short cervix. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a randomized trial of 17-α hydroxyprogesterone caproate for prevention of preterm birth among nulliparous women with singleton gestations and cervices less than 30 mm by midtrimester ultrasonography. Women were asked weekly whether they had been placed on pelvic, work, or nonwork rest. "Any activity restriction" was defined as being placed on any type of rest. Factors associated with any activity restriction were determined and the association between preterm birth and activity restriction was estimated with multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 657 women in the trial, 646 (98%) responded to questions regarding activity restriction. Two hundred fifty-two (39.0%) were placed on any activity restriction at a median of 23.9 weeks (interquartile range 22.6-27.9 weeks). Women on activity restriction were older, more likely to have private insurance, less likely to be Hispanic, had a shorter cervical length, and were more likely to have funneling and intra-amniotic debris. Preterm birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation was more common among women placed on activity restriction (37% compared with 17%, P<.001). After controlling for potential confounding factors, preterm birth remained more common among those placed on activity restriction (adjusted odds ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval 1.60-3.53). Results were similar for preterm birth at less than 34 weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION: Activity restriction did not reduce the rate of preterm birth in asymptomatic nulliparous women with a short cervix.

Cost-effectiveness of trial of labor after previous cesarean in a minimally biased cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of a trial of labor after one previous cesarean delivery (TOLAC). STUDY DESIGN: A model comparing TOLAC with elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) was developed for a hypothetical cohort with no contraindication to a TOLAC. Probabilistic estimates were obtained from women matched on their baseline characteristics using propensity scores. Cost data, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and data on cerebral palsy were incorporated from the literature. RESULTS: The TOLAC strategy dominated the ERCD strategy at baseline, with $138.6 million saved and 1703 QALYs gained per 100,000 women. The model was sensitive to five variables: the probability of uterine rupture, the probability of successful TOLAC, the QALY of failed TOLAC, the cost of ERCD, and the cost of successful TOLAC without complications. When the probability of TOLAC success was at the base value, 68.5%, TOLAC was preferred if the probability of uterine rupture was 4.2% or less. When the probability of uterine rupture was at the base value, 0.8%, the TOLAC strategy was preferred as long as the probability of success was 42.6% or more. CONCLUSION: A TOLAC is less expensive and more effective than an ERCD in a group of women with balanced baseline characteristics.

Risk of uterine rupture and placenta accreta with prior uterine surgery outside of the lower segment.

OBJECTIVE: Women with a prior myomectomy or prior classical cesarean delivery often have early delivery by cesarean because of concern for uterine rupture. Although theoretically at increased risk for placenta accreta, this risk has not been well-quantified. Our objective was to estimate and compare the risks of uterine rupture and placenta accreta in women with prior uterine surgery. METHODS: Women with prior myomectomy or prior classical cesarean delivery were compared with women with a prior low-segment transverse cesarean delivery to estimate rates of both uterine rupture and placenta accreta. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six women with a prior myomectomy, 455 with a prior classical cesarean delivery, and 13,273 women with a prior low-segment transverse cesarean delivery were evaluated. Mean gestational age at delivery differed by group (P<.001), prior myomectomy (37.3 weeks), prior classical cesarean delivery (35.8 weeks), and low-segment transverse cesarean delivery (38.6 weeks). The frequency of uterine rupture in the prior myomectomy group (P-MMX group) was 0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0-1.98%). The frequency of uterine rupture in the low-segment transverse cesarean delivery group (LTC group) (0.41%) was not statistically different from the risk in the P-MMX group (P>.99) or in the prior classical cesarean delivery group (PC group) (0.88%; P=.13). Placenta accreta occurred in 0% (95% CI 0-1.98%) of the P-MMX group compared with 0.19% in the LTC group (P>.99) and 0.88% in the PC group (P=.01 relative to the LTC group). The adjusted odds ratio for the PC group (relative to LTC group) was 3.23 (95% CI 1.11-9.39) for uterine rupture and 2.09 (95% CI 0.69-6.33) for accreta. The frequency of accreta for those with previa was 11.1% for the PC group and 13.6% for the LTC group (P>.99). CONCLUSION: A prior myomectomy is not associated with higher risks of either uterine rupture or placenta accreta. The absolute risks of uterine rupture and accreta after prior myomectomy are low.

Elective repeat cesarean delivery compared with spontaneous trial of labor after a prior cesarean delivery: a propensity score analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine outcomes, after the use of propensity score techniques, to create balanced groups according to whether a woman undergoes elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) or trial of labor (TOL). STUDY DESIGN: Women who were eligible for a TOL with 1 previous low transverse incision were categorized according to whether they underwent an ERCD or TOL. A propensity score technique was used to develop ERCD and TOL groups with comparable baseline characteristics. Outcomes were assessed with conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The rates of endometritis, operative injury, respiratory distress syndrome, and newborn infant infection were lower and the rates of hysterectomy and wound complication were higher in the ERCD group. CONCLUSION: Propensity score techniques can be used to generate comparable ERCD and TOL groups. Some types of maternal morbidity (such as hysterectomy) are higher; other types (such as operative injury) are lower in the ERCD group. Although the absolute risk is low, neonatal morbidity appears to be lower in the ERCD group.

Effect of antenatal corticosteroids on respiratory morbidity in singletons after late-preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether neonates born to women who previously had received antenatal corticosteroids and then delivered a late-preterm-birth neonate had less respiratory morbidity compared with those not exposed to antenatal corticosteroids. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from a multicenter observational study regarding mode of delivery after previous cesarean delivery. We compared women who received one course of antenatal corticosteroids with unexposed parturients and evaluated various respiratory outcomes among those having a singleton, late-preterm-birth neonate. We controlled for potential confounders including gestational age at delivery, diabetes, mode of delivery, and maternal race. RESULTS: Five thousand nine hundred twenty-four patients met the inclusion criteria; 550 received steroids and 5,374 did not. In the univariable model, compared with unexposed women, those who received antenatal corticosteroids appeared more likely to have neonates who required ventilatory support (11.5% compared with 8.6%, P=.022), had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (17.1% compared with 12.2%, P=.001), developed transient tachypnea of the newborn (12.9% compared with 9.8%, P=.020), or required resuscitation in the delivery room (55.8% compared with 49.7%, P=.007). After controlling for confounding factors, we found no significant differences among the groups regarding all of the above outcomes with an odds ratio for RDS of 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.60-1.02) and ventilator support of 0.75 (95% confidence interval, 0.55-1.03). CONCLUSION: Exposure to antenatal corticosteroids does not significantly affect respiratory outcomes among those with a subsequent late-preterm birth.

Comparison of transverse and vertical skin incision for emergency cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare incision-to-delivery intervals and related maternal and neonatal outcomes by skin incision in primary and repeat emergent cesarean deliveries. METHODS: From 1999 to 2000, a prospective cohort study of all cesarean deliveries was conducted at 13 hospitals comprising the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. This secondary analysis was limited to emergent procedures, defined as those performed for cord prolapse, abruption, placenta previa with hemorrhage, nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing, or uterine rupture. Incision-to-delivery intervals, incision-to-closure intervals, and maternal outcomes were compared by skin-incision type (transverse compared with vertical) after stratifying for primary compared with repeat singleton cesarean delivery. Neonatal outcomes were compared by skin-incision type. RESULTS: Of the 37,112 live singleton cesarean deliveries, 3,525 (9.5%) were performed for emergent indications of which 2,498 (70.9%) were performed by transverse and the remaining 1,027 (29.1%) by vertical incision. Vertical skin incision shortened median incision-to-delivery intervals by 1 minute (3 compared with 4 minutes, P<.001) in primary and 2 minutes (3 compared with 5 minutes, P<.001) in repeat cesarean deliveries. Total median operative time was longer after vertical skin incision by 3 minutes in primary (46 compared with 43 minutes, P<.001) and 4 minutes in repeat cesarean deliveries (56 compared with 52 minutes, P<.001). Neonates delivered through a vertical incision were more likely to have an umbilical artery pH of less than 7.0 (10% compared with 7%, P=.02), to be intubated in the delivery room (17% compared with 13%, P=.001), or to be diagnosed with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (3% compared with 1%, P<.001). CONCLUSION: In emergency cesarean deliveries, neonatal delivery occurred more quickly after a vertical skin incision, but this was not associated with improved neonatal outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Mode of delivery in women with antepartum fetal death and prior cesarean delivery.

We describe obstetric outcomes in a group of patients with prior cesarean delivery (CD) presenting with an intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). A secondary analysis of an observational study of women with prior CD was performed. All antepartum singleton pregnancies with a prior CD and IUFD ≥20 weeks' gestation or 500 g were evaluated. Two hundred nine patients met inclusion criteria for analysis. The mean gestational age ± standard deviation at delivery was 31.3 ± 6.5 weeks. The trial of labor rate was 75.6% (158/209), and the vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) success rate was 86.7%. Labor induction or augmentation occurred in 83.3% of attempted VBAC. Uterine rupture occurred in five women (2.4%), and in 3.4% of those being induced but none of these required hysterectomy. Women with a history of previous CD and an IUFD often undergo trial of labor with a high VBAC success rate. Uterine rupture complicates 2.4% of such cases.

Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis for nonlaboring cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of nonlaboring cesarean delivery in reducing postpartum infection-related complications. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of an observational study of cesarean deliveries performed at 13 centers from 1999-2000. Patients were included if they had cesarean delivery before labor, did not have intrapartum infection, and were not given antibiotics at delivery for reasons other than prophylaxis. The occurrence of postpartum endometritis, wound infection, and other, less common infection-related complications was compared between those who did and did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis. Results were adjusted for smoking, payer status, gestational age and body mass index at delivery, race, diabetes, antepartum infections, presence of anemia, operative time, type of cesarean delivery (primary or repeat), and center. RESULTS: Of the 9,432 women who met study criteria, the 6,006 (64%) who received antibiotic prophylaxis were younger, heavier at delivery, and were more likely to be African American, receive public insurance, and have diabetes. Patients who received antibiotic prophylaxis were less likely to develop postpartum endometritis (121 [2.0%] compared with 88 [2.6%], adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28-0.59) or wound infection (31 [0.52%] compared with 33 [0.96%], adjusted OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.86). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis at the time of nonlaboring cesarean delivery significantly reduces the risks of postpartum endometritis and wound infection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

The frequency and complication rates of hysterectomy accompanying cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency, indications, and complications of cesarean hysterectomy. METHODS: This was a prospective, 2-year observational study at 13 academic medical centers conducted between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, on all women who underwent a hysterectomy at the time of cesarean delivery. Data were abstracted from the medical record by study nurses. The outcomes included procedure frequency, indications, and complications. RESULTS: A total of 186 cesarean hysterectomies (0.5%) were performed from a cohort of 39,244 women who underwent cesarean delivery. The leading indications for hysterectomy were placenta accreta (38%) and uterine atony (34%). Of the hysterectomy cases with a diagnosis recorded as accreta, 18% accompanied a primary cesarean delivery, and 82% had a prior procedure (P<.001). Of the hysterectomy cases with atony recorded as a diagnosis, 59% complicated primary cesarean delivery, whereas 41% had a prior cesarean (P<.001). Major maternal complications of cesarean hysterectomy included transfusion of red blood cells (84%) and other blood products (34%), fever (11%), subsequent laparotomy (4%), ureteral injury (3%), and death (1.6%). Accreta hysterectomy cases were more likely than atony hysterectomy cases to require ureteral stents (14% compared with 3%, P=.03) and to instill sterile milk into the bladder (23% compared with 8%, P=.02). CONCLUSION: The rate of cesarean hysterectomy has declined modestly in the past decade. Despite the use of effective therapies and procedures to control hemorrhage at cesarean delivery, a small proportion of women continue to require hysterectomy to control hemorrhage from both uterine atony and placenta accreta. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Failed operative vaginal delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes in women undergoing second-stage cesarean delivery after a trial of operative vaginal delivery with those in women undergoing second-stage cesarean delivery without such an attempt. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of the women who underwent second-stage cesarean delivery. The maternal outcomes examined included blood transfusion, endometritis, wound complication, anesthesia use, and maternal death. Neonatal outcomes examined included umbilical artery pH less than 7.0, Apgar score of 3 or less at 5 minutes, seizures within 24 hours of birth, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, stillbirth, skull fracture, and neonatal death. RESULTS: Of 3,189 women who underwent second-stage cesarean delivery, operative vaginal delivery was attempted in 640. Labor characteristics were similar in the two groups, with the exception of the admission-to-delivery time and cesarean indication. Those with an attempted operative vaginal delivery were more likely to undergo cesarean delivery for a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing (18.0% compared with 13.9%, P=.01), have a wound complication (2.7% compared with 1.0%, odds ratio [OR] 2.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-4.91), and require general anesthesia (8.0% compared with 4.1%, OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.44-2.91). Neonatal outcomes, including umbilical artery pH less than 7.0, Apgar score of 3 or less at 5 minutes, and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, were more common for those with an attempted operative vaginal delivery. This was not significant when cases with a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing were removed. CONCLUSION: Cesarean delivery after an attempt at operative vaginal delivery was not associated with adverse neonatal outcomes in the absence of a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Cesarean delivery for the second twin.

OBJECTIVE: To examine maternal and infant outcomes after a vaginal delivery of twin A and a cesarean delivery of twin B, and to identify whether the second twin experienced increased short-term morbidity as part of a combined route of delivery. METHODS: Between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, a prospective cohort study of all cesarean deliveries was conducted at 13 university centers. This secondary analysis was limited to women with twin gestations who experienced labor and underwent cesarean delivery. We compared outcomes of the second twin in women who had vaginal delivery of the first twin and a cesarean delivery of the second twin to those who had cesarean delivery of both twins. RESULTS: One thousand twenty-eight twin pregnancies experienced labor and underwent cesarean delivery; 179 (17%) had a combined vaginal/cesarean delivery. Gestational age at delivery was 34.6 weeks in both groups (P=.97). The rupture of membranes to delivery interval was longer in the combined group (3.2 compared with 2.3 hours, P<.001). Endometritis and culture-proven sepsis in the second twin were more common in the combined group, respectively (n=24, odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.7; n=15, odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval, 1.0-3.4). These differences were not significant after logistic regression analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in an arterial cord pH of less than 7.0, Apgar score less than or equal to 3 at 5 minutes, seizures, grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, or neonatal death. CONCLUSION: Combined twin delivery may be associated with endometritis and neonatal sepsis when compared with a twin delivery where both are delivered by cesarean in twin pregnancies experiencing labor. More serious neonatal sequelae, including hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and death, were not affected by the route of delivery of the second twin.

Labor outcomes with increasing number of prior vaginal births after cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the success rates and risks of an attempted vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) according to the number of prior successful VBACs. METHODS: From a prospective multicenter registry collected at 19 clinical centers from 1999 to 2002, we selected women with one or more prior low transverse cesarean deliveries who attempted a VBAC in the current pregnancy. Outcomes were compared according to the number of prior VBAC attempts subsequent to the last cesarean delivery. RESULTS: Among 13,532 women meeting eligibility criteria, VBAC success increased with increasing number of prior VBACs: 63.3%, 87.6%, 90.9%, 90.6%, and 91.6% for those with 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more prior VBACs, respectively (P<.001). The rate of uterine rupture decreased after the first successful VBAC and did not increase thereafter: 0.87%, 0.45%, 0.38%, 0.54%, 0.52% (P=.03). The risk of uterine dehiscence and other peripartum complications also declined statistically after the first successful VBAC. No increase in neonatal morbidities was seen with increasing VBAC number thereafter. CONCLUSION: Women with prior successful VBAC attempts are at low risk for maternal and neonatal complications during subsequent VBAC attempts. An increasing number of prior VBACs is associated with a greater probability of VBAC success, as well as a lower risk of uterine rupture and perinatal complications in the current pregnancy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Risk of uterine rupture and adverse perinatal outcome at term after cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: Current information on the risk of uterine rupture after cesarean delivery has generally compared the risk after trial of labor to that occurring with an elective cesarean delivery without labor. Because antepartum counseling cannot account for whether a woman will develop an indication requiring a repeat cesarean delivery or whether labor will occur before scheduled cesarean delivery, the purpose of this analysis was to provide clinically useful information regarding the risks of uterine rupture and adverse perinatal outcome for women at term with a history of prior cesarean delivery. METHODS: Women with a term singleton gestation and prior cesarean delivery were studied over 4 years at 19 centers. For this analysis, outcomes from five groups were studied: trial of labor, elective repeat with no labor, elective repeat with labor (women presenting in early labor who subsequently underwent cesarean delivery), indicated repeat with labor, and indicated repeat without labor. All cases of uterine rupture were reviewed centrally to assure accuracy of diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 39,117 women were studied. In term pregnant women with a prior cesarean delivery, the overall risk for uterine rupture was 0.32% (125 of 39,117), and the overall risk for serious adverse perinatal outcome (stillbirth, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, neonatal death) was 106 of 39,049 (0.27%). The uterine rupture risk for indicated repeat cesarean delivery (labor or without labor) was 7 of 6,080 (0.12%); the risk for elective (no indication) repeat cesarean delivery (labor or without labor) was 4 of 17,714 (0.02%). Indicated repeat cesarean delivery increased the risk of uterine rupture by a factor of 5 (odds ratio 5.1, 95% confidence interval 1.49-17.44). In the absence of an indication, the presence of labor also increased the risk of uterine rupture (4 of 2,721 [0.15%] compared with 0 of 14,993, P<.01). The highest rate of uterine rupture occurred in women undergoing trial of labor (0.74%, 114 of 15,323). CONCLUSION: At term, the risk of uterine rupture and adverse perinatal outcome for women with a singleton and prior cesarean delivery is low regardless of mode of delivery, occurring in 3 per 1,000 women. Maternal complications occurred in 3-8% of women within the five delivery groups.

Comparison of maternal and infant outcomes from primary cesarean delivery during the second compared with first stage of labor.

OBJECTIVE: To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes when primary cesarean delivery is performed in the second stage of labor compared with the first stage. METHODS: Between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2000, a prospective observational study of primary cesarean deliveries was conducted at 13 university centers comprising the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. The primary outcomes of interest included a maternal composite (composed of at least one of the following: endometritis, intraoperative surgical complication, blood transfusion, or wound complication) and neonatal composite (which included at least one of the following: Apgar score of 3 or less at 5 minutes, neonatal death, neonatal intensive care unit admission, seizure, delivery room intubation in the absence of meconium, or fetal injury). RESULTS: A total of 11,981 cesarean deliveries were available for analysis: 9,265 were performed in the first stage and 2,716 in the second stage. Cesarean deliveries performed in the second stage were associated with longer operative times, epidural analgesia, chorioamnionitis, and higher birth weight (all P<.001). The maternal composite index was slightly increased in women undergoing cesarean delivery in the second stage of labor, primarily due to uterine atony, uterine incision extension, and incidental cystotomy. This difference was significant after multivariable analysis (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.37). After multivariable analysis, the neonatal composite did not differ significantly between groups (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.84-1.08). CONCLUSION: Cesarean delivery in the second stage of labor is associated with slightly increased maternal but not neonatal composite morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Outcomes of induction of labor after one prior cesarean.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy outcomes in women with one prior low-transverse cesarean delivery after induction of labor with pregnancy outcomes after spontaneous labor. METHODS: This study is an analysis of women with one prior low-transverse cesarean and a singleton gestation who underwent a trial of labor and who were enrolled in a 4-year prospective observational study. Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated according to whether a woman underwent spontaneous labor or labor induction. RESULTS: Among the 11,778 women studied, vaginal delivery was less likely after induction of labor both in women without and with a prior vaginal delivery (51% versus 65%, P<.001; and 83% versus 88%, P<.001). An increased risk of uterine rupture after labor induction was found only in women with no prior vaginal delivery (1.5% versus 0.8%, P=.02; and 0.6% versus 0.4%, P=.42). Blood transfusion, venous thromboembolism, and hysterectomy were also more common with induction among women without a prior vaginal delivery. No measure of perinatal morbidity was associated with labor induction. An unfavorable cervix at labor induction was not associated with any adverse outcomes except an increased risk of cesarean delivery. CONCLUSION: Induction of labor in the study population is associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery in all women with an unfavorable cervix, a statistically significant, albeit clinically small, increase in maternal morbidity in women with no prior vaginal delivery, and no appreciable increase in perinatal morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Decision-to-incision times and maternal and infant outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To measure decision-to-incision intervals and related maternal and neonatal outcomes in a cohort of women undergoing emergency cesarean deliveries at multiple university-based hospitals comprising the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. METHODS: All women undergoing a primary cesarean delivery at a Network center during a 2-year time span were prospectively ascertained. Emergency procedures were defined as those performed for umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption, placenta previa with hemorrhage, nonreassuring fetal heart rate pattern, or uterine rupture. Detailed information regarding maternal and neonatal outcomes, including the interval from the decision time to perform cesarean delivery to the actual skin incision, was collected. RESULTS: Of the 11,481 primary cesarean deliveries, 2,808 were performed for an emergency indication. Of these, 1,814 (65%) began within 30 minutes of the decision to operate. Maternal complication rates, including endometritis, wound infection, and operative injury, were not related to the decision-to-incision interval. Measures of newborn compromise including umbilical artery pH less than 7 and intubation in the delivery room were significantly greater when the cesarean delivery was commenced within 30 minutes, likely attesting to the need for expedited delivery. Of the infants with indications for an emergency cesarean delivery who were delivered more than 30 minutes after the decision to operate, 95% did not experience a measure of newborn compromise. CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of primary cesarean deliveries performed for emergency indications are commenced more than 30 minutes after the decision to operate, and the majority were for nonreassuring heart rate tracings. In these cases, adverse neonatal outcomes were not increased. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.

Trial of labor or repeat cesarean delivery in women with morbid obesity and previous cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: Assess effects of body mass index (BMI) on trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery and determine whether morbidly obese women have greater maternal and perinatal morbidity with trial of labor compared with elective repeat cesarean delivery. METHODS: Secondary analysis from a prospective observational study included all term singletons undergoing trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery. Body mass index groups were as follows: normal 18.5-24.9, overweight 25.0-29.9, obese 30.0-39.9, morbidly obese 40.0 kg/m2 or greater, and were compared for failure and maternal and neonatal morbidities. The morbidly obese trial of labor and elective repeat cesarean delivery were compared for maternal and neonatal morbidities. Multivariable logistic regression analysis controlled for confounding variables. RESULTS: There were 14,142 trial of labor participants and 14,304 elective repeat cesarean delivery participants. Increasing BMI was directly associated with failed trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery: from 15.2% in normal weight (1,344) to 39.3% in morbidly obese (1,638), with combined risk of rupture/dehiscence increasing from 0.9% to 2.1% in morbidly obese women. Among morbidly obese women, trial of labor carried greater than five-fold risk of uterine rupture/dehiscence (2.1% versus 0.4%), almost a two-fold increase in composite maternal morbidity (7.2% versus 3.8%) and five-fold risk of neonatal injury (1.1% versus 0.2%) (fractures, brachial plexus injuries, and lacerations), but no neonatal encephalopathy. Morbidly obese women failing a trial of labor had six-fold greater composite maternal morbidity than those undergoing a successful trial of labor (14.2% versus 2.6%). CONCLUSION: Body mass index correlates with outcomes in trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery. Morbidly obese women undergoing a trial of labor were at increased risk for failure. Increased BMI was associated with greater composite morbidity and neonatal injury compared with elective repeat cesarean delivery, but absolute morbidities were small. Increased risks should be considered before trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.