[Trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery: review of the literature].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review was to relate the evolution of obstetrical management of delivery in women who had previously undergone cesarean delivery and to search the studies supporting the choice of the mode of delivery.


METHODS
We identified relevant studies through a computer search in the Medline database.


RESULTS
After a period from 1980 to 2000 when the vaginal delivery had been increasingly recommended, a growth in the use of the planned cesarean delivery was observed. Recent studies report more evidence that uterine rupture is the result of trial of labor and that adverse perinatal outcomes are associated with uterine rupture. The risk of uterine rupture is increased with labor induction. The use of prostaglandins appears to be implicated in a significant increase of uterine rupture, and subsequently might be contraindicated in this situation. The use of oxytocin induced labor appears to increase the risk of uterine rupture. However, the level of adverse perinatal outcomes is low. The choice of the mode of delivery should take into account the likelihood of a further pregnancy, due to the increased risk of placental pathologic conditions depending on the number of repeated cesarean sections.


CONCLUSIONS
An optimal decision for the mode of delivery should be shared with the pregnant women and all these factors should be taken into consideration.
Vercoustre
L
L
Département de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Pavillon Mère-Enfant, Centre Hospitalier du Havre. lvercoustre@ch-havre.fr
Roman
H
H
D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects; D017604:Cesarean Section, Repeat; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014219:Trial of Labor; D014597:Uterine Rupture / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016064:Vaginal Birth after Cesarean