title: Induction of labor after a prior cesarean delivery: lessons from a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were (1) to determine the success rate of induction of labor (IOL) in women with a prior cesarean section (CS) and (2) to compare the perinatal outcome of a trial of labor (TOL) in women with one prior CS who had an IOL, spontaneous onset of labor, or an elective repeated CS (ERCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study population was divided into three groups: women who had (1) ERCS (n = 1916), (2) spontaneous TOL (n = 4263), and (3) IOL (n = 1576).
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The rate of IOL in the study cohort was 20.3%; of these, 67.4% had a successful vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). (2) Patients in the spontaneous TOL group had a higher VBAC rate than did those who had IOL (P < 0.001). (3) The rate of uterine rupture was comparable among all study groups. And (4) a prior vaginal birth increased the likelihood of having a successful induction and a VBAC by 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IOL in patients with a previous CS is successful in about two-thirds of the cases. Induction is a safe and useful tool that can serve as an alternative for ERCS and assist to reduce the rate of ERCS.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, BenGurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shatz
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Novack
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazor
authors.forename: Ruthy Beer
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Weisel
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dukler
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rafaeli-Yehudai
authors.forename: Osnat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Israeli
authors.forename: Offer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017604:Cesarean Section, Repeat / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014219:Trial of Labor; D016064:Vaginal Birth after Cesarean / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult