The role of maternal body mass index in outcomes of vaginal births after cesarean.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between maternal body mass index and obstetrical outcome in patients with a prior cesarean undergoing a trial of labor versus elective repeat cesarean.


METHODS
A perinatal database between 1991 and 1997 was used to identify secundipara at term after a previous cesarean section. In different groups according to maternal body mass index, the rates of successful vaginal birth after caesarean, uterine scar separation, and other obstetrical outcomes were evaluated.


RESULTS
Of 8580 patients with a prior cesarean, 1862 (21.7%) underwent an elective repeat cesarean and 6718 (78.3%) underwent a trial of labor. Maternal body mass index correlated inversely with the rate of successful vaginal birth after caesarean but not with the rate of uterine scar separation. After adjustment for confounding factors including maternal age, birth weight, induction of labor, and preeclampsia, maternal body mass index remained associated with a lower rate of successful vaginal birth after cesarean.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal body mass index is an independent factor associated with a lower rate of successful vaginal birth after cesarean.
Bujold
Emmanuel
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hutzel Hospital, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Hammoud
Ahmad
A
Schild
Christiane
C
Krapp
Martin
M
Baumann
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016064:Vaginal Birth after Cesarean / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*