HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Srinivas, S. K. Articles by Macones, G. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Srinivas, S. K. Articles by Macones, G. A. Related Collections Labor and operative obstetrics Decision analysis

Predicting Failure of a Vaginal Birth Attempt After Cesarean Delivery

From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ¹University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ² Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a group of clinical factors that could be used to accurately predict failure in women attempting vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

METHODS: We conducted a planned secondary analysis of a retrospective cohort study of women who were offered VBAC from 1996 to 2000 in 17 community and university hospitals. We collected information about maternal history and outcomes of the index pregnancy. We used univariable and multivariable statistical methods to develop a multivariable prediction model for the outcome of VBAC failure.

RESULTS: A total of 13,706 patients attempted VBAC, with a failure rate of 24.5%. Six variables were significantly associated with VBAC failure in our final logistic regression model: gestational age at delivery, maternal age, maternal race, labor type (spontaneous, augmented, or induced), history of vaginal delivery, and cephalopelvic disproportion or failed induction (combined variable) as prior cesarean indication. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve is 0.717. To achieve a sensitivity of approximately 75%, a false-positive rate of approximately 40% would result.

CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that significant clinical variables (prelabor and labor) cannot reliably predict VBAC failure.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. G. Cahill, D. M. Stamilio, A. O. Odibo, J. Peipert, E. Stevens, and G. A. Macones Racial Disparity in the Success and Complications of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery Obstet. Gynecol., March 1, 2008; 111(3): 654 - 658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. R. Newton Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Prediction: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy? Obstet. Gynecol., April 1, 2007; 109(4): 796 - 797. [Full Text] [PDF]