Should obstetricians support a 'term cephalic trial'?
Recent analyses of the published data suggest that the risks of elective Caesarean delivery in an uncomplicated pregnancy may not outweigh the benefits of vaginal birth by as much as has been supposed. Indeed, this balance may be so close that the place of elective Caesarean delivery of a term cephalic baby might be considered as a worthwhile subject of a randomised controlled trial. We discuss the potential consequences of such a trial and what effect it could have on obstetric practice.
Robson
Stephen
S
Division of Women's and Children's Health, The Canberra Hospital, Woden, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. steve.robson@act.gov.au
Ellwood
David
D
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014219:Trial of Labor