Morbidity of failed labor in patients with prior cesarean section

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine whether the reported increased morbidity associated with failed attempted vaginal birth after cesarean section is attributable to the presence of a uterine scar alone or to labor preceding a cesarean section. STUDY DESIGN: Primiparous women (N = 237) who underwent repeat cesarean section after a failed trial of vaginal birth after cesarean section were retrospectively compared with 1582 nulliparous women who underwent a primary cesarean section after a failed trial of labor. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in maternal or neonatal morbidity between the two groups except for an increase in the prevalence of thin meconium in patients undergoing primary cesarean section. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the presence of a previous cesarean section scar does not increase the overall baseline morbidity associated with cesarean section after labor.