Trends of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery in Germany from 1990 to 2012: a population-based study

Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC): fear it or dare it? An evaluation of potential risk factors

OBJECTIVES

The consultation of women aspiring a vaginal birth after caesarean may be improved by integrating the individual evaluation of factors that predict their chance of success. Retrospective analysis of correlating factors for all trials of labor after caesarean that were conducted at the Department of Obstetrics of Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Clinic from 2014 to October 2017.

METHODS

Of 2,151 pregnant women with previous caesarean, 408 (19%) attempted a vaginal birth after cesarean. A total of 348 women could be included in the evaluation of factors, 60 pregnant women were excluded because they had obstetric factors (for example preterm birth, intrauterine fetal death) that required a different management.

RESULTS

Spontaneous delivery occurred in 180 (51.7%) women and 64 (18.4%) had a vacuum extraction. 104 (29.9%) of the women had a repeated caesarean delivery. The three groups showed significant differences in body mass index, the number of prior vaginal deliveries and the child's birth weight at cesarean section. The indication for the previous cesarean section also represents a significant influencing factor. Other factors such as maternal age, gestational age, sex, birth weight and the head circumference of the child at trial of labor after caesarean showed no significant influence.

CONCLUSIONS

The clear majority (70.1%) of trials of labor after caesarean resulted in vaginal delivery. High body mass index, no previous spontaneous delivery, and fetal distress as a cesarean indication correlated negatively with a successful vaginal birth after cesarean. These factors should be used for the consultation of pregnant women.

Prior caesarean section and likelihood of vaginal birth, 2012-2016, China

OBJECTIVE

To examine the trends and safety of vaginal birth after caesarean section around the period of the one-child policy relaxation in China.

METHODS

We used data from China's National Maternal Near Miss Surveillance System between 2012 and 2016. To examine trends in vaginal birth after caesarean section, we used Poisson regression with a robust variance estimator. We also assessed the association between vaginal birth after caesarean section and maternal and perinatal outcomes.

FINDINGS

We analysed 871 636 deliveries by women with a previous caesarean section. Both in 2012 and 2016, the rate of vaginal birth after caesarean section was 9.8%. After adjusting for institutional, sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, the rate increased by 14% between 2012 and 2016 (adjusted relative risk, aRR: 1.14; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.07-1.21). Compared to women with a repeat caesarean section, women with a vaginal birth after caesarean section experienced lower incidence of uterine rupture (aRR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.16-0.42), blood transfusion (aRR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53-0.87) and admission to the intensive care unit (aRR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.25-0.52), but higher incidence of intrapartum stillbirths, (aRR: 7.20, 95% CI: 6.09-8.51), newborns with a 5-minute Apgar score less than 7 (aRR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.54-1.99) and neonatal death before discharge (aRR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.61-2.24).

CONCLUSION

Promotion of vaginal birth after caesarean section could increase the rate even further in China. To ensure the safety of mothers and their newborns, national policies and guidelines on vaginal birth after caesarean section are needed.

Vaginal birth after caesarean versus elective repeat caesarean delivery after one previous caesarean section: a cost-effectiveness analysis in four European countries

BACKGROUND

The OptiBIRTH study incorporates a multicentre cluster randomised trial in 15 hospital sites across three European countries. The trial was designed to test a complex intervention aimed at improving vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC) rates through increasing women's involvement in their care. Prior to developing a robust standardised model to conduct the health economic analysis, an analysis of a hypothetical cohort was performed to estimate the costs and health effects of VBAC compared to elective repeat caesarean delivery (ERCD) for low-risk women in four European countries.

METHODS

A decision-analytic model was developed to estimate the costs and the health effects, measured using Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs), of VBAC compared with ERCD. A cost-effectiveness analysis for the period from confirmation of pregnancy to 6 weeks postpartum was performed for short-term consequences and during lifetime for long-term consequences, based on a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 pregnant women in each of four different countries; Belgium, Germany, Ireland and Italy. A societal perspective was adopted. Where possible, transition probabilities, costs and health effects were adapted from national data obtained from the respective countries. Country-specific thresholds were used to determine the cost-effectiveness of VBAC compared to ERCD. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine the uncertainty of model assumptions.

RESULTS

Within a 6-week time horizon, VBAC resulted in a reduction in costs, ranging from €3,334,052 (Germany) to €66,162,379 (Ireland), and gains in QALYs ranging from 6399 (Italy) to 7561 (Germany) per 100,000 women birthing in each country. Compared to ERCD, VBAC is the dominant strategy in all four countries. Applying a lifetime horizon, VBAC is dominant compared to ERCD in all countries except for Germany (probabilistic analysis, ICER: €8609/QALY). In conclusion, compared to ERCD, VBAC remains cost-effective when using a lifetime time.

CONCLUSIONS

In all four countries, VBAC was cost-effective compared to ERCD for low-risk women. This is important for health service managers, economists and policy makers concerned with maximising health benefits within limited and constrained resources.

VBAC: Changes over Last 10 Years

Introduction

Vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC) has been historically studied to be a standard and a safe procedure with good successful results.

Aims

This study was conducted to determine changes in pattern of VBAC by the same author over a period of 10 years.

Results

Data for 1 year between 2005-2006 and 2014-2015 were compared, and successful VBAC was found to be 74.46% in 2005-2006 period compared to only 34.42% in 2014-2015. Neonatal mortality and maternal morbidity were, however, much higher 10 years ago.

Conclusions

It was concluded that better diagnostic techniques, awareness of patients and medico legal fear have led to safer health of mother and child and lesser incidence of VBAC over the last 10 years.

Can the Rate of C-sections Performed in a Level I Perinatal Center Be Reduced? - An Analysis of the University Gynecology Clinic Rostock, 2008 - 2014

INTRODUCTION

In Germany the rate of deliveries by cesarean section is continually increasing. Many different reasons have been put forward to explain this trend. The aim of this study was to examine how the C-section rate developed at the University Gynecology Clinic Rostock, one of the biggest maternity hospitals and level I perinatal centers in Germany, based on various maternal and neonatal parameters. The aim was also to identify potential risk factors for C-sections.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Various obstetric parameters were obtained from the birth cohort (2008 to 2014; n = 20 091) of the University Gynecology Clinic Rostock. The data was used to calculate parameter-specific C-section rates. Potential risk factors for C-section were identified by regression analysis.

RESULTS

The C-section rate dropped from 26.24% to 23.57%. The rate of repeat C-sections also declined. The mean age of the pregnant women increased. Nevertheless, the frequency of cesarean sections in pregnant women aged more than 35 years declined. Rates of being overweight or obese preconception increased. C-section rates increased as BMI values preconception increased. There was a perceptible trend towards attempting the vaginal delivery of children in breech presentation and of twins. The frequency of depressed neonates after vaginal delivery and after C-section decreased. Rates for mild and advanced acidosis increased after both C-sections and vaginal deliveries. Previous C-section, older maternal age, overweight and obesity prior to conception, breech presentation and multiple pregnancies all increased the risk of cesarean sections.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that reducing the rates of C-sections without a deterioration in neonatal outcomes can be achieved even in a large maternity hospital that cares for many high-risk pregnancies.

Impact of caesarean section on mode of delivery, pregnancy-induced and pregnancy-associated disorders, and complications in the subsequent pregnancy in Germany

Objectives: To analyze the impact of caesarean section (CS) on mode of delivery, pregnancy-induced and pregnancy-associated disorders, as well as complications in the subsequent pregnancy within German gynecological practices.

Methods: 1,801 women with CS and 1,801 matched women with vaginal delivery (VD) from the IMS Disease Analyzer database were included. The impact of previous CS on the mode of delivery and pregnancy-associated disorders as well as complications prior to or during birth in the subsequent pregnancy were analyzed. Cox regressions were used to determine the influence of CS with regard to these outcomes.

Results: Medical abortion and single spontaneous delivery were significantly less frequent in women with a history of CS compared to VD (OR equal to 0.52 and 0.04 respectively), whereas CS after CS was the significantly more common mode of delivery (79.0% versus 9.3%, OR=36.47). Gestational hypertension without significant proteinuria, gestational hypertension with significant proteinuria, and polyhydramnios were more frequent in women with CS than in women with VD (OR equal to 6.80, 1.71, and 2.29). Hemorrhage and maternal care for known or suspected disproportion were more common in the CS group than in the VD group (OR equal to 1.34 and 3.75). Prolonged pregnancy, preterm labor, abnormalities arising from forces of labor, and perineal laceration during delivery were significantly less frequent in women with CS than in women with VD (OR between 0.32 and 0.75), whereas long labor was more common (OR=2.09).

Conclusion: Women with CS were more likely to undergo further CS and to develop major pregnancy-associated diseases in the following pregnancy compared to women with VD.