Contemporary Cesarean Delivery Practice in the United States

Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2010
Authors
Zhang, J; Troendle, J; Reddy, U; Laughon, S; Branch, D; Burkman, R; Landy, HH, JU; Haberman, S; Ramirez, M; Bailit, J; Hoffman, M; Gregory, K; Gonzalez-Quintero, V; Kominiarek, M; Learman, L; Hatjis, C; Van Veldhuisen, P; Consortium on Safe Labor
Secondary
Am J Obstet Gynecol
Volume
203
Start Page
326.e321
Pagination
326.e321-326.e310
Date Published
10/2010
Keywords
Adult; Cesarean Section; Cicatrix; Dystocia; Female; Fetal Distress; Gestational Age; Labor; Maternal Age; obesity; Parity; Pregnancy; Research NIH Extramural/Intramural; Trial of Labor
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe contemporary cesarean delivery practice in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Consortium on Safe Labor collected detailed labor and delivery information from 228,668 electronic medical records from 19 hospitals across the United States, 2002-2008. RESULTS: The overall cesarean delivery rate was 30.5%. The 31.2% of nulliparous women were delivered by cesarean section. Prelabor repeat cesarean delivery due to a previous uterine scar contributed 30.9% of all cesarean sections. The 28.8% of women with a uterine scar had a trial of labor and the success rate was 57.1%. The 43.8% women attempting vaginal delivery had induction. Half of cesarean for dystocia in induced labor were performed before 6 cm of cervical dilation. CONCLUSION: To decrease cesarean delivery rate in the United States, reducing primary cesarean delivery is the key. Increasing vaginal birth after previous cesarean rate is urgently needed. Cesarean section for dystocia should be avoided before the active phase is established, particularly in nulliparous women and in induced labor.
URL
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20708166