Diagnosis of dystocia and management with cesarean section among primiparous women in Ottawa-Carleton.

We carried out a chart review study to determine the rate of diagnosis of dystocia (abnormal progress) and the use of cesarean section to treat dystocia among 3887 primiparous women who gave birth to a single baby in the vertex presentation at four hospitals in Ottawa-Carleton in 1984. Of the 3740 women who had some labour 1127 (30.1%) were given a diagnosis of dystocia. Cesarean section for dystocia was done during all phases of labour (41% of procedures in the latent phase, 38% in the active phase and 21% in the second stage). The cesarean section rate varied among the hospitals from 11.8% to 19.6%. A total of 75% of the cesarean sections were for dystocia, disproportion or failed induction. The findings suggest that cesarean section is being done for disproportion without a trial of labour beyond the latent phase and for dystocia in the absence of fetal distress. If these practices were modified the cesarean section rate could be reduced from 16% to about 8%, the rate found in some other centres and that observed in Canada in the early 1970s.     

Cesarean section: trends and morbidity.

A review of 1683 cesarean sections performed at one hospital in a 3-year period (1977-79) showed that the cesarean section rate had trebled since 1967-79, the rates being 16.9% and 5.8%. The main indications for cesarean section responsible for this rise were dystocia, breech presentation and a previous cesarean section. AFter the operation 23.3% of received antibiotics. If the cesarean section rate is to fall, the biggest impact can be made by planning vaginal delivery in selected patients with a previous cesarean section and by improving the management of nonprogressive labour.     

Progesterone and oestradiol levels and cytoplasmic receptor concentrations in the human myometrium at term, before labour and during labour

Progesterone (P) and oestradiol (E2) cytoplasmic receptor levels in the myometrium of 12 women, who underwent cesarean section at term were determined by means of an exchange assay. Six of the women had an elective cesarean section, and the other six were in active labour when the operation was performed. Both the P and the E2 receptor concentrations were significantly higher in the myometrium of those women who were in labour. The plasma P and E2 levels did not change before labour and during labour. The myometrial E2 concentrations were also similar in both groups. The myometrial P concentration was lower in the labour group, but the difference was not statistically significant. This study is the first which compares the steroid receptor levels at term before labour and during labour in human myometrium, although only the unbound and the cytosol receptor levels were determined. The change of levels in receptor concentrations could be a sign of the decrease of the P dominance in the myometrium during labour.     

Physicians' beliefs and behaviour during a randomized controlled trial of episiotomy: consequences for women in their care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether physicians'' beliefs concerning episiotomy are related to their use of procedures and to differential outcomes in childbirth. DESIGN: Post-hoc cohort analysis of physicians and patients involved in a randomized controlled trial of episiotomy. SETTING: Two tertiary care hospitals and one community hospital in Montreal. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 703 women at low risk of medical or obstetric problems enrolled in the trial we studied 447 women (226 primiparous and 221 multiparous) attended by 43 physicians. Subjects attended by residents or nurses were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients: intact perineum v. perineal trauma, length of labour, procedures used (instrumental delivery, oxytocin augmentation of labour, cesarean section and episiotomy), position for birth, rate of and reasons for not assigning women to a study arm, postpartum perineal pain and satisfaction with the birth experience, physicians: beliefs concerning episiotomy. RESULTS: Women attended by physicians who viewed episiotomy very unfavorably were more likely than women attended by the other physicians to have an intact perineum (23% v. 11% to 13%, p < 0.05) and to experience less perineal trauma. The first stage of labour was 2.3 to 3.5 hours shorter for women attended by physicians who viewed episiotomy favourably than for women attended by physicians who viewed episiotomy very unfavorably (p < 0.05 to < 0.01), and the former physicians were more likely to use oxytocin augmentation of labour. Physicians who viewed episiotomy more favourably failed more often than those who viewed the procedure very unfavourably to assign patients to a study arm late in labour (odds ratio [OR] 1.88, p < 0.05), both overall and because they felt that "fetal distress" or cesarean section necessitated exclusion of the subject. They used the lithotomy position for birth more often (OR 3.94 to 4.55, p < 0.001), had difficulty limiting episiotomy in the restricted-use arm of the trial and diagnosed fetal distress and perineal inadequacy more often than the comparison groups. The patients of physicians who viewed episiotomy very favourably experienced more perineal pain (p < 0.01), and of those who viewed episiotomy favourably and very favourably experienced less satisfaction with the birth experience (p < 0.01) than the patients of physicians who viewed the procedure very unfavourably. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians with favourably views of episiotomy were more likely to use techniques to expedite labour, and their patients were more likely to have perineal trauma and to be less satisfied with the birth experience. This evidence that physician beliefs can influence patient outcomes has both clinical and research implications.     

Recent trends in cesarean section use in California.

Cesarean section use in the United States has increased to 24.7% of deliveries in 1988 and is the most common hospital surgical procedure. California cesarean section rates were examined to measure recent trends in obstetric practices and to project future patterns of cesarean section use. Using discharge abstracts from 1983 to 1987 California hospital deliveries, total cesarean section rates were found to increase from nearly 22% in 1983 to 25% in 1987, an increase of 15%. Using a series of least-squares regression models, time trends in the distribution of indications associated with cesarean section among all deliveries and indication-specific cesarean section rates were evaluated. Increases in the number of women with previous cesarean section and fetal distress contributed to rising cesarean section rates. In addition, indication-specific cesarean section rates increased for breech presentation and dystocia. These trends were counterbalanced, in part, by declining rates of repeat cesarean sections. Trends noted for July 1985 through 1987 did not differ substantially from those observed for January 1983 to June 1985, suggesting that recent policy attempts to alter cesarean section use have not had a measurable effect on existing trends. Projections suggest that California cesarean section rates will rise to a level of 34% by the year 2000.     

剖宫产产妇并发医院感染的临床特征及相关影响因素研究

目的:探讨剖宫产产妇并发医院感染的临床特征及相关影响因素,并提出相应的防控措施。方法:选取自2014年1月至2016年12月间在我院妇产科进行剖宫产手术的产妇4112例,记录产妇感染发生的情况(感染率、感染部位及病原菌分布),并统计分析产妇的基本情况,包括年龄、体质量指数(BMI)、住院时间、基础疾病等基本情况。结果:进行剖宫产的产妇合并发生医院感染的感染率为4.89%(201/4112);感染部位主要为手术切口感染、泌尿道感染、生殖道感染、盆腔感染、呼吸道感染及皮肤感染,其中手术切口感染所占比例为45.77%;医院感染病例中共培养出5种病原菌共51株,包括金黄色葡萄球菌、葛兰氏阴性杆菌、副流感嗜血菌、粪肠球菌及耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌;感染因素中年龄、BMI、住院时间、基础疾病情况、医护人员操作的熟练程度、手术时间、术中出血量、术后尿管留置时间及抗菌药物应用与剖宫产产妇并发医院感染之间具有紧密联系(P0.05),而首次剖宫产手术与剖宫产产妇并发医院感染之间无联系(P0.05)。结论:剖宫产产妇并发医院感染的发生率较高,而且多种感染因素影响其发生,因此在临床上应采取相应的防控措施,降低感染率,保证产妇和新生儿的身心健康。     

COOK双球囊导管在足月妊娠引产中的临床研究

目的:探讨宫颈双球囊导管在足月妊娠促宫颈成熟及引产中的有效性和安全性。方法:回顾性选择符合有引产指征、单胎头位、宫颈评分6分的100例足月妊娠孕妇进行分析,其中51例采用COOK双球囊导管引产者为COOK组,49例采用小剂量缩宫素引产者为对照组,比较分析两组宫颈成熟度、引产效果、分娩方式、分娩结局、产后出血、新生儿窒息等情况。结果:100例孕妇引产指征主要是延期(过期)妊娠、羊水过少、妊娠期高血压、妊娠期糖尿病、妊娠合并甲减等。COOK组51例促宫颈成熟有效49例(96.08%),对照组有效16例(32.65%),COOK组促宫颈成熟有效率显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。COOK组诱发临产时间明显少于对照组,两组差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。COOK组阴道分娩41例(80.39%),剖宫产10例(19.61%);对照组阴道分娩20例(40.82%),剖宫产29例(59.18%),COOK组阴道分娩率明显高于对照组,剖宫产率明显低于对照组,两组差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组之间的总产程、羊水污染率、新生儿窒息率、产后出血率等围产结局无显著差异(P0.05);COOK组引产过程中出现不良反应6例(11.76%),对照组5例(10.20%),两组无显著差异(P0.05)。结论:COOK双球囊导管促宫颈成熟及引产效果明显优于缩宫素,且不增加不良反应的发生,由于操作简单,有效性和安全性高,值得国内临床推广。     

Commentary: "health has become secondary to a sexually attractive body"

This article focuses on the prevalence of cesarean section among upper class women for aesthetic purposes. In Latin America, the national cesarean section rate has risen to 40%, while in the early 1980s the rate was 75% in Brazil. In a survey conducted in the UK, 31% of women obstetricians would prefer to have cesarean section without any medical indication. This could perhaps be due to the obsession of maintaining a sexually appealing body. Health has then become secondary to the production of a sexually attractive body. The role of the medical profession lacks the definitive evidence on the issues regarding concerns of women and choices in childbirth particularly in some countries. The author suggests that the medical community and society should allow the women the choice between major surgery and childbirth.     

Northern obstetrics: a 5-year review of delivery among Inuit women.

There are over 18,000 Inuit in the Northwest Territories. As a group they have the highest birth rate, the lowest cesarean section rate and one of the highest perinatal death rates in Canada. We reviewed the obstetric experience of 512 Inuit women who either gave birth at Stanton Yellowknife Hospital or were referred from Yellowknife and gave birth at a southern facility between January 1981 and December 1985. Our experience is consistent with that documented in earlier reviews, which concluded that Inuit women tend to have efficient uterine action, to endure labour well and to rarely have dystocia. During the periods covered by these reviews delivery was frequently in the settlements; now hospital delivery is the norm. Substantial improvements in perinatal outcome are evident, but there remains a considerable gap between the northern and southern experience. Those attempting further progress must recognize that the need for obstetric care away from the home community is not fully appreciated by Inuit women, their families or their communities.     

Outcome of planned home births in an inner city practice.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the outcome of pregnancy for women booking for home births in an inner London practice between 1977 and 1989. DESIGN--Retrospective review of practice obstetric records. SETTING--A general practice in London. SUBJECTS--285 women registered with the practice or referred by neighbouring general practitioners or local community midwives. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Place of birth and number of cases transferred to specialist care before, during, and after labour. RESULTS--Of 285 women who booked for home births, eight left the practice area before the onset of labour, giving a study population of 277 women. Six had spontaneous abortions, 26 were transferred to specialist care during pregnancy, another 26 were transferred during labour, and four were transferred in the postpartum period. 215 women (77.6%, 95% confidence interval 72.7 to 82.5) had normal births at home without needing specialist help. Transfer to specialist care during pregnancy was not significantly related to parity, but nulliparous women were significantly more likely to require transfer during labour (p = 0.00002). Postnatal complications requiring specialist attention were uncommon among mothers delivered at home (four cases) and rare among their babies (three cases). CONCLUSIONS--Birth at home is practical and safe for a self selected population of multiparous women, but nulliparous women are more likely to require transfer to hospital during labour because of delay in labour. Close cooperation between the general practitioner and both community midwives and hospital obstetricians is important in minimising the risks of trial of labour at home.     

Experience with fetal monitoring in a university teaching hospital.

Fetal monitoring during labour may be expected to decrease perinatal losses and the number of infants born with brain damage. In a prospective study of intrapartum fetal monitoring in selected high-risk pregnancies in a Winnipeg hospital the monitoring rate was 26.5% and the cesarean section rate in the monitored group was 22.0%. The fetal outcome in the monitored group was better than in the unmonitored group. The establishment of a fetal intensive care unit is believed to be strongly desirable in improving fetal surveillance during labour. Fetal monitors should be stationed in the delivery room as well as in the first-stage room.     

高龄瘢痕子宫再妊娠孕产妇剖宫产术终止妊娠直接病因及预后影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨高龄瘢痕子宫再妊娠孕产妇剖宫产术终止妊娠直接病因及预后影响因素分析。方法：回顾性分析2016年1月-2020年10月在我院收治的400例高龄瘢痕子宫再妊娠孕妇。按照是否终止妊娠将400例孕妇分为终止妊娠组（200例）和未终止妊娠组（200例）。并对200例终止妊娠孕妇进行2年随访,按照2年内再妊娠情况分为再妊娠成功组（150例）和再次终止妊娠组（50例）。采用Spearman检验进行相关性分析;采用logistics回归模型进行回归分析。结果：200例终止妊娠孕妇中瘢痕妊娠60（30.00 %）例,死胎13（6.50 %）例,胎儿畸形25（12.50 %）例,子痫前期81（40.50 %）例,胎膜早破11（5.50%）例,妊娠意外事件10（5.00 %）例。高龄瘢痕子宫孕妇终止妊娠后再妊娠与教育水平、是否有固定职业、家庭月收入无关（P＞0.05）;与年龄、孕次、产次、剖宫产手术史、终止妊娠病因有关（P<0.05）;200例终止妊娠孕妇预后再妊娠与年龄、孕次、产次、剖宫产手术史、终止妊娠病因密切相关（P<0.05）;多因素分析结果显示,年龄、孕次、产次、剖宫产手术史、终止妊娠病因是独立危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：高龄瘢痕子宫孕妇终止妊娠的主要病因为瘢痕妊娠,死胎,胎儿畸形例,子痫前期,胎膜早破,妊娠意外事件。年龄、孕次、产次、剖宫产手术史、终止妊娠病因是影响高龄瘢痕子宫孕妇预后再妊娠的独立危险因素。     

Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America

Objective To evaluate the safety of home births in North America involving direct entry midwives, in jurisdictions where the practice is not well integrated into the healthcare system.Design Prospective cohort study.Setting All home births involving certified professional midwives across the United States (98% of cohort) and Canada, 2000.Participants All 5418 women expecting to deliver in 2000 supported by midwives with a common certification and who planned to deliver at home when labour began.Main outcome measures Intrapartum and neonatal mortality, perinatal transfer to hospital care, medical intervention during labour, breast feeding, and maternal satisfaction.Results 655 (12.1%) women who intended to deliver at home when labour began were transferred to hospital. Medical intervention rates included epidural (4.7%), episiotomy (2.1%), forceps (1.0%), vacuum extraction (0.6%), and caesarean section (3.7%); these rates were substantially lower than for low risk US women having hospital births. The intrapartum and neonatal mortality among women considered at low risk at start of labour, excluding deaths concerning life threatening congenital anomalies, was 1.7 deaths per 1000 planned home births, similar to risks in other studies of low risk home and hospital births in North America. No mothers died. No discrepancies were found for perinatal outcomes independently validated.Conclusions Planned home birth for low risk women in North America using certified professional midwives was associated with lower rates of medical intervention but similar intrapartum and neonatal mortality to that of low risk hospital births in the United States.     

影响剖宫产术后并发产褥感染的相关危险因素分析

目的:探讨剖宫产术后产褥感染的相关危险因素,为临床制定感控措施提供参考。方法:回顾性分析我院接受剖宫产术的1760例孕妇的临床资料,采用单因素卡方检验及多因素Logistic回归方法对剖宫产术后发生产褥感染的相关危险因素进行统计学分析。结果:1760例接受剖宫产手术的孕妇,术后发生产褥感染的有68例,发生率为3.86%;发生产褥感染最常见的部位是急性子宫内膜炎、子宫肌炎,其构成比占57.4%;经过单因素卡方检验及多因素Logistic回归分析,最终筛选出手术时间(OR=1.351)、血红蛋白(OR=1.759)、胎膜早破(OR=2.247)、孕期生殖道感染反复发作(OR=2.047)、妊娠糖尿病(OR=1.473)、前置胎盘反复阴道出血(OR=1.584)与宫产术后发生产褥感染呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:手术时间、血红蛋白、胎膜早破、孕期生殖道感染反复发作、妊娠糖尿病、前置胎盘反复阴道出血是剖宫产后发生产褥感染的高危因素,临床应针对这些高危因素制定干预措施以降低感染的发生率。     

Maternal Clinical Diagnoses and Hospital Variation in the Risk of Cesarean Delivery: Analyses of a National US Hospital Discharge Database

Background

Cesarean delivery is the most common inpatient surgery in the United States, where 1.3 million cesarean sections occur annually, and rates vary widely by hospital. Identifying sources of variation in cesarean use is crucial to improving the consistency and quality of obstetric care. We used hospital discharge records to examine the extent to which variability in the likelihood of cesarean section across US hospitals was attributable to individual women''s clinical diagnoses.

Methods and Findings

Using data from the 2009 and 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project—a 20% sample of US hospitals—we analyzed data for 1,475,457 births in 1,373 hospitals. We fitted multilevel logistic regression models (patients nested in hospitals). The outcome was cesarean (versus vaginal) delivery. Covariates included diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy, hypertension in pregnancy, hemorrhage during pregnancy or placental complications, fetal distress, and fetal disproportion or obstructed labor; maternal age, race/ethnicity, and insurance status; and hospital size and location/teaching status.The cesarean section prevalence was 22.0% (95% confidence interval 22.0% to 22.1%) among women with no prior cesareans. In unadjusted models, the between-hospital variation in the individual risk of primary cesarean section was 0.14 (95% credible interval 0.12 to 0.15). The difference in the probability of having a cesarean delivery between hospitals was 25 percentage points. Hospital variability did not decrease after adjusting for patient diagnoses, socio-demographics, and hospital characteristics (0.16 [95% credible interval 0.14 to 0.18]). A limitation is that these data, while nationally representative, did not contain information on parity or gestational age.

Conclusions

Variability across hospitals in the individual risk of cesarean section is not decreased by accounting for differences in maternal diagnoses. These findings highlight the need for more comprehensive or linked data including parity and gestational age as well as examination of other factors—such as hospital policies, practices, and culture—in determining cesarean section use. Please see later in the article for the Editors'' Summary     

Late results of cesarean and vaginal delivery in cases of breech presentation.

This study compared the subsequent development of children in breech presentation according to the method of their delivery - vaginal or cesarean section. No differences were found between children born vaginally and those born by cesarean section after some labour, except for a larger variability in the outcomes of the latter group. Only 4% of the deliveries were by cesarean section without labour, and when analysed separately the data for this group frequently showed the poorest outcome. Reasons for the observations are suggested, and proposed further research is outlined.     

南京某大型医院剖宫产及其影响因素的初步分析

目的:分析某医院剖宫产的现状,初步探讨其影响因素及控制策略。方法:整理分析了南京某大型医院2009年共1411名入院产妇的病历资料,按分娩方式分为自然分娩组(经阴道分娩)和剖宫产组,比较两组产妇的一般信息、身体状况、产时情况等,采用多因素Logistic回归分析了剖宫产的影响因素。结果:该医院2009年度剖宫产产妇为608人,占总产妇的43.09%。剖宫产产妇的年龄和体重明显高于自然分娩产妇(P0.01),既往身体状况相对较差。入院时多无产兆、宫口未开,且产妇宫高、腹围、胎心率明显较高(P0.05或P0.01)。B超检查也显示,羊水异常(过多或过少)、巨大儿、胎位不正(主要为臀位)以及脐带绕颈的比例也明显高于自然分娩产妇(P0.05或P0.01)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,产妇高龄(35岁)、入院产兆、胎位不正、产妇腹围过大、胎儿窘迫及新生儿超重等皆为剖宫产的独立影响因素。此外发现19.24%的剖宫产产妇无临床指征(即社会因素)。结论:该医院剖宫产的比例不低,要根据影响因素合理选择剖宫产,尤其要有效控制无指征的剖宫产选择,降低剖宫产率。     

Delivery after caesarean section: review of 2176 consecutive cases.

A total of 2176 consecutive patients who had had one previous caesarean section were studied retrospectively. A repeat elective caesarean section was performed in 395 (18.2%). Labour started spontaneously in 1363 patients, 301 of whom were given oxytocin to accelerate inert labour, and was induced by amniotomy and infusion of oxytocin in 418 women; 1618 of these 1781 patients (90.8%) delivered vaginally. Patients who had had a previous vaginal delivery were more likely to deliver vaginally again. Those women in whom the initial caesarean section had been performed during labour before the cervix was 4 cm dilated were less likely to deliver vaginally than those who had progressed further in labour or those who had had an elective caesarean section. Similarly, those who received oxytocin to stimulate inert labour were more likely to require a repeat caesarean section than those who did not. The uterine scar ruptured in only eight (0.45%) of the 1781 patients allowed into labour. The risk of rupture of the scar was not increased by the use of oxytocin alone either to induce or to accelerate labour. The combination of oxytocin to accelerate labour and epidural analgesia to provide pain relief, however, was associated with an increased incidence of scar rupture. Labour may be safely allowed in women who have had a previous caesarean section, most of whom will deliver vaginally. Induction of labour does not increase the risk of either a repeat caesarean section or rupture of a uterine scar.     

Cesarean Section and Rate of Subsequent Stillbirth,Miscarriage, and Ectopic Pregnancy: A Danish Register-Based Cohort Study

Background

With cesarean section rates increasing worldwide, clarity regarding negative effects is essential. This study aimed to investigate the rate of subsequent stillbirth, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy following primary cesarean section, controlling for confounding by indication.

Methods and Findings

We performed a population-based cohort study using Danish national registry data linking various registers. The cohort included primiparous women with a live birth between January 1, 1982, and December 31, 2010 (n = 832,996), with follow-up until the next event (stillbirth, miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy) or censoring by live birth, death, emigration, or study end. Cox regression models for all types of cesarean sections, sub-group analyses by type of cesarean, and competing risks analyses for the causes of stillbirth were performed. An increased rate of stillbirth (hazard ratio [HR] 1.14, 95% CI 1.01, 1.28) was found in women with primary cesarean section compared to spontaneous vaginal delivery, giving a theoretical absolute risk increase (ARI) of 0.03% for stillbirth, and a number needed to harm (NNH) of 3,333 women. Analyses by type of cesarean section showed similarly increased rates for emergency (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01, 1.31) and elective cesarean (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.91, 1.35), although not statistically significant in the latter case. An increased rate of ectopic pregnancy was found among women with primary cesarean overall (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04, 1.15) and by type (emergency cesarean, HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03, 1.15, and elective cesarean, HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03, 1.21), yielding an ARI of 0.1% and a NNH of 1,000 women for ectopic pregnancy. No increased rate of miscarriage was found among women with primary cesarean, with maternally requested cesarean section associated with a decreased rate of miscarriage (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60, 0.85). Limitations include incomplete data on maternal body mass index, maternal smoking, fertility treatment, causes of stillbirth, and maternally requested cesarean section, as well as lack of data on antepartum/intrapartum stillbirth and gestational age for stillbirth and miscarriage.

Conclusions

This study found that cesarean section is associated with a small increased rate of subsequent stillbirth and ectopic pregnancy. Underlying medical conditions, however, and confounding by indication for the primary cesarean delivery account for at least part of this increased rate. These findings will assist women and health-care providers to reach more informed decisions regarding mode of delivery. Please see later in the article for the Editors'' Summary