Vaginal Birth after a Cesarean Section at Good Shepherd Mission Hospital at Tshikaji in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Background: The success rate of vaginal birth after cesarean section with a single cesarean scar is greater than 50%, the lack of the information about the safety of vaginal birth after cesarean delivery pushes most of obstetricians to increase the num ber of cesarean sections following a previous cesarean section. Guidelines for Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) indicate that TOLAC offers women with no contraindications and one previous transverse low-segment cesarean. The objective of the current study was to study the outcome of trial of labour after caesarean section (TOLAC), the indications for emergency repeat cesarean section and to determine the maternal and fetal prognosis in vaginal birth after caesarian section (VBAC) at Tshikaji Mission Hospital. Patients, Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study of the records of 126 women were selected to undergo the TOLAC in the department of gynecology and obstetrics at the Tshikaji Mission Hospital over the period from January 1st to December 31st, 2021. The data on demography, antenatal care, labour and delivery and outcomes were collected from the maternity unit of this hospital. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 2.0. Results: The TOLAC in 126 studied women. The course of work allowed vaginal delivery 107 parturient women, a success rate of successful VBAC of 85% after the TOLAC. The repeat emergency cesarean section was necessary for delivery in 15% of cases for failed TOLAC. There was no maternal mortality, but we recorded one fetal death or 0.8% of perinatal mortality, 2 cases of cicatricial dehiscence, the incidence of 1.6%. Maternal morbidity after delivery on cicatricial uterus was dominated by postpartum hemorrhages, with 19 cases or 15.1% of cases. Cervical dilatation of more than 3 cm at the time of admission, the parity more than 3 and were the significant factors in favor of a successful VBAC. Birth weight of more than 3500 g, fetal distress and malpresentation were associated with a lower success rate of VBAC. The TOLAC in selected cases has great importance in the present era of the rising rate of primary CS especially in rural areas. Conclusion: Pregnancy on a cicatricial uterus represents a high-risk pregnancy. Trial of VBAC in selected cases has great importance in the present era of the rising rate of primary CS especially in rural areas. There is a significantly high vaginal birth after caesarian section (VBAC) success rate among selected women undergoing trial of scar in Tshikaji Hospital. TOLAC remains the option for childbirth in low resource settings as Kasai region in DRC. Adequate patient education and counselling in addition to appropriate patient selection for TOLAC remain the cornerstone to achieving high VBAC success rate.

Labor Onset, Oxytocin Use, and Epidural Anesthesia for Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Section and Associated Effects on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in a Tertiary Hospital in China： A Retrospective Study

Background：In the mainland of China, the trial of labor after cesarean section is still a relatively new technique. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of labor onset, oxytocin use, and epidural anesthesia on maternal and neonatal outcomes for vaginal birth after cesarean section （VBAC） in a tertiary hospital in China.Methods：This was a retrospective study carried out on 212 VBAC cases between January 2015 and June 2017 in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University. Relevant data were acquired on a form, including maternal age, gravidity and parity, body mass index before pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, type of labor onset, gestational age, the use of oxytocin and epidural anesthesia, birth mode, the duration of labor, and neonatal weight. The factors affecting maternal and neonatal outcomes for cases involving VBAC, especially with regards to postpartum hemorrhage （PPH） and fetal distress, were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression.Results：Data showed that 36 women （17.0%） had postpartum hemorrhage （PPH） and 51 cases （24.1%） featured fetal distress. Normal delivery took place for 163 infants （76.9%） while 49 infants （23.1%） underwent operative vaginal deliveries with forceps. There were 178 cases （84.0%） of spontaneous labor and 34 cases （16.0%） required induction. Oxytocin was used in 54 cases （25.5%） to strengthen uterine contraction, and 65 cases （30.7%） received epidural anesthesia. The rate of normal delivery in cases involving PPH was significantly lower than those without PPH （61.1% vs. 80.1%; χ2 = 6.07, P = 0.01）. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that the intrapartum administration of oxytocin （odds ratio [OR] = 2.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–5.74; P = 0.04） and birth mode （OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.18–0.87; P = 0.02） was significantly associated with PPH in VBAC cases. Operative vaginal delivery occurred more frequently in the group with fetal distress than the group without （49.0% vs. 14.9%, χ2 = 25.36, P = 0.00）. Multivariate logistic analysis also revealed that the duration of total labor （OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00–1.03; P = 0.04） and the gestational week of delivery （OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.05–1.11; P = 0.00） were significantly associated with fetal distress in VBAC.Conclusions：The administration of oxytocin during labor and birth was identified as a protective factor for PPH in VBAC while birth mode was identified as a risk factor. Finally, the duration of total labor and the gestational week of delivery were identified as risk factors for fetal distress in cases of VBAC. This information might help obstetricians provide appropriate interventions during labor and birth for VBAC.