Trial of labor after 2 previous cesareans: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Trial of labor after cesarean after 2 cesarean deliveries is linked to a lower success rate of vaginal delivery and higher rates of adverse obstetrical outcomes than trial of labor after cesarean after 1 previous cesarean delivery. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with failed trial of labor after cesarean among women with 2 previous cesarean deliveries. STUDY DESIGN: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study, which included all women with singleton pregnancies attempting trial of labor after cesarean after 2 previous cesarean deliveries between 2003 and 2021. This study compared labor, maternal, and neonatal characteristics between women with failed trial of labor after cesarean and those with successful trial of labor after cesarean. Univariate analysis was initially performed, followed by multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals). RESULTS: The study included a total of 1181 women attempting trial of labor after cesarean after 2 previous cesarean deliveries. Among these cases, vaginal birth after cesarean was achieved in 973 women (82.4%). Women with failed trial of labor after cesarean had higher rates of maternal and neonatal morbidities. Several factors were found to be associated with failed trial of labor after cesarean, including longer interpregnancy and interdelivery intervals, lower gravidity and parity, lower rates of previous successful vaginal delivery, smoking, earlier gestational age at delivery (38.3±2.1 vs 39.5±1.3 weeks), late preterm delivery (34-37 weeks of gestation), lower cervical dilation on admission, no use of epidural, and smaller neonatal birthweight. Our multivariable model revealed that late preterm delivery (adjusted odds ratio, 3.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.37-10.47) and cervical dilation on admission for labor <3 cm (adjusted odds ratio, 2.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-4.54) were associated with higher odds of failed trial of labor after cesarean. CONCLUSION: In the investigated population of women with 2 previous cesarean deliveries undergoing trial of labor after cesarean, admission at the late preterm period with a cervical dilation of <3 cm, which reflects the latent phase, may elevate the risk of failed trial of labor after cesarean and a repeated intrapartum cesarean delivery.

Association between surgical technique, adhesions and morbidity in women with repeat caesarean section: a retrospective study in a rural hospital in Western Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: The worldwide incidence of birth by Caesarean Section (CS) is rising. Many births after a previous CS are by repeat surgery, either by an elective CS or after a failed trial of labour. Adhesion formation is associated with increased maternal morbidity in patients with repeat CSs. In spite of large-scale studies the relation between the incidence of adhesion formation and CS surgical technique is unclear. This study aims to assess maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality after repeat CSs in a rural hospital in a low-income country (LIC) and to analyse the effect of surgical technique on the formation of adhesions. METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective medical records study of all women undergoing CS in Ndala Hospital in 2011 and 2012. RESULTS: Of the 3966 births, 450 were by CS (11.3%), of which 321 were 1st CS, 80 2nd CS, 36 3rd CS, 12 4th and one 5th CS (71, 18, 8, 3 and 0.2% respectively). Adhesions were considered to be severe in 56% of second CSs and 64% of third CSs. In 2nd CSs, adhesions were not associated with closure of the peritoneum at 1st CS, but were associated with the prior use of a midline skin incision. There was no increase in maternal morbidity when severe adhesions were present. Adverse neonatal outcome was more prevalent when severe adhesions were present, but this was statistically non-significant (16% vs 6%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results give insight into the practice of repeat CS in our rural hospital. Adhesions after CSs are common and occur more frequently after midline skin incision at 1st CS compared to a transverse incision. Reviewing local data is important to evaluate quality of care and to compare local outcomes to the literature.

Placenta percreta into the urinary bladder: the importance of the urologist.

The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum is on the rise. The most serious entity within this spectrum is percreta: extension beyond the uterus. The bladder is most commonly involved in these cases and is especially relevant for the urologist. Important sequelae include hemorrhage, massive transfusion, maternal mortality and urinary tract injury. Approaching this disorder as well as associated urinary tract involvement in a standardized and multi-disciplinary fashion significantly improves outcomes and reduces morbidity. Herein, we present a case of complete placenta percreta involving the bladder that was successfully managed with minimal obstetrical and genitourinary morbidity.

Continuous intravenous infusion of remifentanil improves the experience of parturient undergoing repeated cesarean section under epidural anesthesia, a prospective, randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Unsatisfactory analgesia would occur frequently during repeated cesarean section under epidural anesthesia. The aim of this study is to observe the effects of intravenous remifentanil on maternal comfort, maternal and neonatal safety during repeated cesarean section under epidural anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 80 parturients undergoing repeated cesarean section were involved in the study. The patients were randomly divided into the intravenous remifentanil- assisted epidural group (group R) and epidural group (group E), respectively (n = 40). In group R, the remifentanil was continuously intravenously infused as an adjuvant to epidural anesthesia. In group E, 0.75% ropivacaine epidural or intravenous ketamine was administered as needed. Parturient baseline characteristics, vital signs, VAS scores, and comfort scores during surgery were recorded. Adverse effects were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were enrolled in the current study and the final analyses included 39 patients in group R and 38 patients in group E. No differences in patients' baseline characteristics were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Compared with group E, the comfort score was significantly higher in group R (9.1 ± 1.0 vs. 7.5 ± 1.3, p <  0.001), whereas the maximum VAS score was significantly lower in group R (1.8 ± 1.2 vs. 4.1 ± 1.0, p <  0.001). Maternal and neonatal adverse effects did not differ between the two groups during surgery (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Continuous intravenous infusion of low-dose remifentanil can significantly improve the experience of parturients undergoing repeated cesarean section under epidural anesthesia, without noticeable maternal or neonatal adverse effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was pre-registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx (ChiCTR1800018423) on 17/09/2018.

Maternal and perinatal outcome after previous caesarean section in rural Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Offering a trial of labor (ToL) after previous caesarean section (CS) is an important strategy to reduce short- and long-term morbidity associated with repeated CS. We compared maternal and perinatal outcomes between ToL and elective repeat caesarean section (ERCS) at a district hospital in rural Rwanda. METHODS: Audit of women's records with one prior CS who delivered at Ruhengeri district hospital in Rwanda between June 2013 and December 2014. RESULTS: Out of 4131 women who came for delivery, 435 (11%) had scarred uteri. ToL, which often started at home or at health centers without appropriate counseling, occurred in 297/435 women (68.3%), while 138 women (31.7%) delivered by ERCS. ToL was successful in 134/297 (45.1%) women. There were no maternal deaths. Twenty-eight out of all 435 women with a scarred uterus (6.4%) sustained severe acute maternal morbidity (puerperal sepsis, postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture), which was higher in women with ToL (n = 23, 7.7%) compared with women who had an ERCS (n = 5, 3.6%): adjusted odds ration (aOR) 1.4 (95% CI 1.2-5.4). There was no difference in neonatal admissions between women who underwent ToL (n = 64/297; 21.5%) and those who delivered by ERCS (n = 35/138; 25.4%: aOR 0.8; CI 0.5-1.6). The majority of admissions were due to perinatal asphyxia that occurred more often in infants whose mothers underwent ToL (n = 40, 13.4%) compared to those who delivered by ERCS (n = 15, 10.9%: aOR 1.9; CI 1.6-3.6). Perinatal mortality was similar among infants whose mothers had ToL (n = 8; 27/1000 ToLs) and infants whose mothers underwent ERCS (n = 4; 29/1000 ERCSs). CONCLUSIONS: A considerable proportion of women delivering at a rural Rwandan hospital had scarred uteri. Severe acute maternal morbidity was higher in the ToL group, perinatal mortality did not differ. ToL took place under suboptimal conditions: access for women with scarred uteri into a facility with 24-h surgery should be guaranteed to increase the safety of ToL.

Anesthesia for cesarean section in a patient with isolated unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery / Anestesia para cesariana em paciente com ausência unilateral isolada de artéria pulmonar

Abstract Background and objectives: Congenital unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare anomaly. Although there are several reports regarding pregnancy in patients with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery, there are no case reports describing anesthesia for Cesarean section in a patient with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery. Case report: We present a patient with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery who underwent Cesarean sections twice at the ages of 24 and 26 years under spinal anesthesia for surgery and epidural analgesia for postoperative pain relief. Both times, spinal anesthesia and epidural analgesia enabled successful anesthesia management without the development of either pulmonary hypertension or right heart failure. Conclusion: Spinal anesthesia combined with epidural analgesia is a useful anesthetic method for a Cesarean section in patients with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery.

Resumo Justificativa e objetivos: A ausência congênita unilateral de uma artéria pulmonar (ACAP) é uma anomalia rara. Embora existam vários relatos sobre pacientes grávidas com ACAP, não há relatos de casos que descrevam anestesia para cesariana em pacientes com ACAP. Relato de caso: Apresentamos uma paciente com ACAP que foi submetida a duas cesarianas, aos 24 e 26 anos, sob raquianestesia para a cirurgia e analgesia epidural para a dor no pós-operatório. Nas duas cesarianas, a raquianestesia e a analgesia epidural possibilitaram o manejo bem-sucedido da anestesia, sem a ocorrência de qualquer hipertensão pulmonar ou insuficiência cardíaca direita. Conclusão: Raquianestesia combinada com analgesia epidural é um método anestésico útil para cesarianas em pacientes com ACAP.

Anesthesia for cesarean section in a patient with isolated unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Congenital unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare anomaly. Although there are several reports regarding pregnancy in patients with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery, there are no case reports describing anesthesia for Cesarean section in a patient with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery. CASE REPORT: We present a patient with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery who underwent Cesarean sections twice at the ages of 24 and 26 years under spinal anesthesia for surgery and epidural analgesia for postoperative pain relief. Both times, spinal anesthesia and epidural analgesia enabled successful anesthesia management without the development of either pulmonary hypertension or right heart failure. CONCLUSION: Spinal anesthesia combined with epidural analgesia is a useful anesthetic method for a Cesarean section in patients with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery.

The association of skin-incision type at cesarean with maternal and neonatal morbidity for women with multiple prior cesarean deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: In women with multiple prior cesarean deliveries (CDs), vertical skin incisions are thought by some to result in better outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes according to the type of skin incisions among women with multiple prior CDs. STUDY DESIGN: This was a secondary analysis of MFMU Cesarean Registry data. Women undergoing repeat CD with a viable singleton gestation and history of ≥2 prior CDs were included in this analysis. Women who had indications for urgent CD (e.g., cord prolapse) or suspected placenta accreta were excluded. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with 2, 3 and ≥4 prior CDs were compared by skin-incision type (transverse vs. vertical) using univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: 5007 women met the inclusion criteria. In univariable analysis, women with 2 prior CDs who had a vertical skin incision had shorter incision-to-delivery intervals (12.9 min vs. 14.1 min, p<0.001) but also higher rates of endometritis and composite adverse maternal outcomes (4.9% vs. 2.7%, p=0.001, 16.1% vs. 13.4%, p=0.026, respectively). Women with 3 prior CDs also had higher rates of composite adverse maternal outcomes (21.2% vs. 15.8%, p=0.042). In women with ≥4 prior CDs, prolonged hospitalization, composite adverse maternal outcomes, NICU admission and composite adverse neonatal outcomes also were higher with vertical skin incision (23.2% vs. 9.3%, p=0.005, 32.9% vs. 13.7%, p=0.001, 32.1% vs.19.6%, p=0.045, 32.9% vs.19.4%, p=0.024, respectively). In multivariable analyses, vertical skin incision remained associated with prolonged hospitalization and composite adverse maternal outcome among women with ≥4 prior CDs (aOR 3.40, CI 1.11-10.38, aOR=2.37, CI 1.02-5.55, respectively). CONCLUSION: Vertical skin incision at the time of multiple repeat CD was not associated with better obstetric or perinatal outcomes and was associated among women with ≥4 prior CDs with a higher frequency of prolonged hospitalization and adverse maternal outcomes.

Correlations between sonographically measured and actual incision site thickness of lower uterine segment after repeated caesarean section.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to verify how much the sonographically measured thickness of the lower uterine segment caesarean-section (LUS-CS) scar correlates with incision site thickness in a repeated caesarean section after uterotonic administration. METHODS: Sixty-three obstetric patients at term undergoing repeated caesarean section. LUS-CS thickness was measured sonographically before the repeated caesarean. Some seconds after delivery of the fetus and placenta and administration of an institutional, standard uterotonic, LUS was measured on the site of surgical incision (upper side and lower side) using Castroviejo's caliper. Multiple measurements were taken and averaged for improving accuracy. Mean measurements were used for calculations (unilinear correlations and multilinear regression analyses.). RESULTS: Poor correlation was found between sonographically measured scar thickness and lower uterine side incision thickness (r 0.311; C.I. 95% 0.068-0.519; P=0.013) and between sonographically measured scar thickness and uterine scar overall incision thickness (mean of upper side and lower side measurements) (r 0.254; C.I. 95% 0.007-0.472; P=0.045). Sonographically measured scar thickness was smaller in patients with two or more previous caesareans (P=0.045) and greater in patients who had undergone the last of the previous caesarean sections longer than two years earlier (P=0.043). Patients with two or more previous caesareans had smaller upper-side incision thickness (P=0.005); smaller lower-side incision thickness (P=0.038); smaller incision site overall thickness (P=0.006). CONCLUSION: Sonographically measured thickness and incision site thickness of the LUS-CS scar are poorly correlated (about 25%), despite the fact that patients most at risk for uterine rupture have thinner LUS, both sonographically and when measured during surgery.

Body mass index and operative times at cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI, kg/m) and incision-to-delivery interval and total operative time at cesarean delivery. METHODS: Women with singleton gestations undergoing uncomplicated primary and repeat cesarean deliveries were identified from the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network Cesarean Registry. Women were classified by BMI category at time of delivery (normal 18.5-24.9, overweight 25.0-29.9, obese 30.0-39.9, and morbidly obese 40 or greater). Incision-to-delivery interval and total operative times during cesarean delivery were compared among the three groups. Primary outcome was prolonged incision-to-delivery interval as defined by 90th percentile or greater of the study population or 18 minutes or longer. RESULTS: Of the 21,372 women included in the analysis, 9,928 were obese (46.5%) and 2,988 (14.0%) were morbidly obese. Longer operative times were found among women with overweight (median [interquartile range] incision-to-delivery: 9.0 [6.0] and total operative time: 45.0 [21.0] minutes), obese (10.0 [7.0]; 48.0 [22.0] minutes), and morbidly obese BMIs (12.0 [8.0]; 55.0 [26.0] minutes) compared with women with normal BMI at delivery (9.0 [5.0]; 43.0 [20.0] minutes) (P<.001). Morbidly obese women had a more frequent incision-to-delivery interval that was 18 minutes or longer (n=602 [20%] compared with 127 [6%] in normal BMI). After adjustments including number of prior cesarean deliveries, incision-to-delivery interval 18 minutes or longer was significantly related to obese (odds ratio [OR] 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-2.03) and morbidly obese (OR 2.81, 95% CI 2.24-3.56) BMI at delivery. CONCLUSION: Increasing BMI is related to increased incision-to-delivery interval and total operative time at cesarean delivery with morbidly obese BMI exposing women to the highest risk of prolonged incision-to-delivery interval. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : II.

Adhesion prevention after cesarean delivery: evidence, and lack of it.

In spite of the recognized occurrence of cesarean-attributable adhesions, its clinical significance is uncertain. The presence of adhesions during a repeat cesarean section can make fetal extraction lengthy and the procedure challenging and may increase the risk of injury to adjacent organs. Two methods for adhesion prevention are discussed, peritoneal closure and use of adhesion barriers. Peritoneal closure appears to be safe in the short term. In the long term, conflicting evidence arise from reviewing the literature for possible adhesion reduction benefits. A systematic review of the literature on the use of adhesion barriers in the context of cesarean section yielded only a few studies, most of which are lacking in methodology. For now, it appears that the available evidence does not support the routine use of adhesion barriers during cesarean delivery.

[Regional anaesthesia in women with morbid obesity in obstetrics and gynecology].

The article deals with regional anaesthesia peculiarities in womnen wiith morbid obesity in obstetrics and gynecology. The articles discusses cases demonstating safety and effectiveness of low-dose comnbined spinal-epidural anaesthesia in these patients.

Adhesions following cesarean delivery: a review of their occurrence, consequences and preventative management using adhesion barriers.

The objective of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the occurrence and consequences of postoperative adhesions following cesarean delivery (CD), and an overview of the published clinical data on prevention in this setting using adhesion barriers. Adhesions occur frequently after CD and the incidence increases with each subsequent CD. Repeat CDs are complicated by adhesions, which increase operating time, time to delivery and risk of bladder injury. Clinical data on the efficacy of adhesion prevention strategies specific to the setting of CD are limited. Two small, nonrandomized studies found that the use of absorbable anti-adhesion barriers was associated with a significant reduction in adhesion formation and a shorter time to delivery at repeat CD, compared with no barrier use. Implications for practice and research are discussed. There is a significant need for well-controlled, randomized clinical studies investigating adhesion prevention in the labor and delivery setting.

Caesarean section surgical techniques (CORONIS): a fractional, factorial, unmasked, randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Variations exist in the surgical techniques used for caesarean section and many have not been rigorously assessed in randomised controlled trials. We aimed to assess whether any surgical techniques were associated with improved outcomes for women and babies. METHODS: CORONIS was a pragmatic international 2×2×2×2×2 non-regular fractional, factorial, unmasked, randomised controlled trial that examined five elements of the caesarean section technique in intervention pairs. CORONIS was undertaken at 19 sites in Argentina, Chile, Ghana, India, Kenya, Pakistan, and Sudan. Each site was assigned to three of the five intervention pairs: blunt versus sharp abdominal entry; exteriorisation of the uterus for repair versus intra-abdominal repair; single-layer versus double-layer closure of the uterus; closure versus non-closure of the peritoneum (pelvic and parietal); and chromic catgut versus polyglactin-910 for uterine repair. Pregnant women were eligible if they were to undergo their first or second caesarean section through a planned transverse abdominal incision. Women were randomly assigned by a secure web-based number allocation system to one intervention from each of the three assigned pairs. All investigators, surgeons, and participants were unmasked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the composite of death, maternal infectious morbidity, further operative procedures, or blood transfusion (>1 unit) up to the 6-week follow-up visit. Women were analysed in the groups into which they were allocated. The CORONIS Trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN31089967. FINDINGS: Between May 20, 2007, and Dec 31, 2010, 15 935 women were recruited. There were no statistically significant differences within any of the intervention pairs for the primary outcome: blunt versus sharp entry risk ratio 1·03 (95% CI 0·91-1·17), exterior versus intra-abdominal repair 0·96 (0·84-1·08), single-layer versus double-layer closure 0·96 (0·85-1·08), closure versus non-closure 1·06 (0·94-1·20), and chromic catgut versus polyglactin-910 0·90 (0·78-1·04). 144 serious adverse events were reported, of which 26 were possibly related to the intervention. Most of the reported serious adverse events were known complications of surgery or complications of the reasons for the caesarean section. INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that any of these surgical techniques is acceptable. However, longer-term follow-up is needed to assess whether the absence of evidence of short-term effects will translate into an absence of long-term effects. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council and WHO.

Time between skin incision and delivery during cesarean.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors influencing skin incision-to-delivery time (including sub-divisions thereof) and the effect of these surgical intervals on immediate neonatal outcome. METHODS: A prospective cohort analysis was conducted of all women undergoing cesarean delivery at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, from May 24 to November 2, 2010. Three surgical intervals were evaluated: skin incision to myometrium, myometrium to delivery, and skin incision to delivery. Neonatal outcome was assessed by the 5-minute Apgar score. RESULTS: Of 1120 cesarean deliveries recorded during the study period, 77.2% were emergency procedures, which were performed more quickly at all surgical planes (P<0.01). Adhesions in the surgical field were present in 7.4% of all primary procedures versus 67.7% of all third procedures (P<0.001). The skin incision-to-delivery time was significantly extended among repeat procedures (P<0.001) and increased progressively with degree of obesity (P<0.001). Although the 3 surgical intervals were calculated individually, none of the median values correlated with a 5-minute Apgar score below 7 for emergency deliveries. CONCLUSION: Repeat procedures, adhesions, and obesity prolonged the time taken for cesarean delivery. Nevertheless, the effect of these factors on the 5-minute Apgar score was minimal.

What about the Misgav-Ladach surgical technique in patients with previous cesarean sections?

OBJECTIVE: The Misgav-Ladach technique is recommended worldwide to perform cesarean sections but there is no consensus about the appropriate technique to use in patients with previous cesarean sections. This study evaluated the feasibility of the Misgav-Ladach technique in patients with previous cesarean sections. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective cohort study included all women undergoing cesarean section after 36 weeks of gestation over a 5-month period, with the Misgav-Ladach technique as first choice, whatever the previous number of cesarean sections. RESULTS: Among the 204 patients included, the Misgav-Ladach technique was successful in 100%, 80%, and 65.6% of patients with no, one, and multiple previous cesarean sections, respectively. When successful, the Misgav-Ladach technique was associated with a shorter incision to birth interval in patients with no previous cesarean section compared with patients with one or multiple previous cesarean sections. Anterior rectus aponeurosis fibrosis and severe peritoneal adherences were the two main reasons explaining the Misgav-Ladach technique failure. CONCLUSION: The Misgav-Ladach technique is possible in over three-fourths of patients with previous cesarean sections with a slight increase in incision to birth interval compared with patients without previous cesarean section. Further studies comparing the Misgav-Ladach and the Pfannenstiel techniques in women with previous cesarean should be done.

Rectus muscle and visceral peritoneum closure at cesarean delivery and intraabdominal adhesions.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the rectus muscle and visceral peritoneum closure at cesarean delivery on adhesions. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of women who underwent first repeat cesarean delivery. Surgeons scored the severity and location of adhesions. Records were abstracted to assess previous surgical techniques. RESULTS: The original cohort included 173 patients. Rectus muscle closure was associated with fewer combined filmy and dense adhesions overall (27.5% vs 46%; P = .04) and fewer dense adhesions overall (17.5% vs 46%; P = .001; adjusted odds ratio, [aOR], 0.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-0.65), particularly from fascia to omentum (aOR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.007-0.82). Visceral peritoneum closure was associated with increased dense fascia-to-omentum adhesions (aOR, 15.78; 95% CI, 1.81-137.24). CONCLUSION: Closure of the rectus muscles at cesarean delivery may reduce adhesions, and visceral peritoneum closure may increase them. Surgical techniques at cesarean delivery should be assessed independently, because they may have opposite effects on adhesion formation.