title: Delivery after prior cesarean: success rate and factors.
abstract: Cesarean delivery rates in the United States have reached an all-time high. The current rate of 31% is 6 times higher than the 1970s rate. Many factors including physician preference and hospital accessibility account for this trend. A decreased vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rate and an increased repeat cesarean rate have important consequences for women in future pregnancies. Because of these considerations, VBAC has been an important issue within the obstetric community for over 3 decades. Identifying the best candidates for VBAC using factors available to the obstetrician can increase the VBAC success rate while minimizing maternal morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. shanksa@wudosis.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Anthony L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.forename: Alison G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cahill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014219:Trial of Labor; D014481:United States; D014597:Uterine Rupture / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016064:Vaginal Birth after Cesarean / Q000401:mortality / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult