Vaginal Birth After Cesarean: Contemporary Update and Ongoing Controversies for the Clinician in the Trenches

Abstract

Mounting evidence underscoring serious maternal complications such as hemorrhage, emergent hysterectomy, thromboembolic disease and even death from multiple cesarean deliveries has refocused attention upon trial of labor after cesarean birth. Research over the last thirty years has provided insight into some of the clinical and demographic factors associated with uterine rupture and successful trial of labor after cesarean delivery. Clinical application of these strategies has the potential to mitigate the dilemma for physicians in the trenches caused by fear of uterine rupture during a trial of labor after cesarean. Individual risk stratification of candidates that optimizes success and minimizes uterine rupture during a trial of labor after cesarean shows promise for implementation of best practices leading to favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. This review contains 4 figures, 6 tables, and 97 references. Key Words: Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), Trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC), uterine rupture, uterine scar, lower uterine segment, repeat cesarean, placenta accreta, uterine dehiscence