Pregnancy Outcome in Women with One Previous Caesarean Delivery - A Prospective Longitudinal Study in a Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pregnancy with one prior Caesarean section (CS) constitutes a high-risk group with associated medical and legal implications. The dictum ‘once a Caesarean always a Caesarean’ has now judiciously been replaced with ‘once a Caesarean, trial of labour after selection’ because low transverse uterine incision has much lesser chance of scar rupture. Though vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) or trial of scar (TOS) brings a significant change in modern obstetric practice in terms of lower maternal and perinatal morbidities, apprehension of accidental scar rupture during trial of labour with its undesirable consequences still prevents a good number of obstetricians adopting this process. The purpose of the study was to determine the outcome of pregnancy in relation to mode of delivery, i.e., either elective repeat Caesarean section (ERCS) or vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) with maternal and perinatal complications in each mode. METHODS A hospital based prospective, longitudinal, and observational study of 300 pregnant women with previous one Caesarean delivery attended labour emergency or out-patient department (OPD) at Midnapore Medical College of West Bengal, was carried out, approved by the institutional ethical committee. Gestational age < 37 weeks and > 42 weeks and h\o previous uterine surgery like myomectomy, hysterotomy, classical CS were excluded from the study. Data collected was analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software version 20. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the continuous and categorical data and expressed in the form of mean and percentage whereas proportions were analysed using chi-square test. A P - value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Out of 300 pregnancies, 140 subjects were given trial of labour (TOL). Of which 89 subjects (63.6 %) had successful VBAC and 51 subjects (36.4 %) had repeat Caesarean sections. Among 211 subjects of repeat Caesarean section, 53 subjects (25.12 %) had indicated for scar tenderness and 73 subjects (34.59 %) had elective repeat Caesarean section (ERCS) due to protracted or arrested cervical dilatation. Those having previous vaginal delivery (VD), had more incidences of VBAC in present pregnancy than those who had no previous VD (P ≤ 0.005); Maternal morbidity (33.65 % ERCS versus 10.11 % VD group, P ≤ 0.05) and neonatal morbidity (12.3 % ERCS versus 2.46% VD group, P ≤ 0.05) was significantly higher in ERCS group. CONCLUSIONS Trial of labour (TOL) should be given in well-equipped hospital. In carefully selected cases, it is a safe procedure and often rewarding, thus incidence of repeat CS can be reduced. Those who had a history of vaginal delivery, VBAC often successful. KEYWORDS VBAC, Trial of Scar, Elective Repeat Caesarean Section, Trial of Labour