Prediction of vaginal delivery following caesarean section for failure to progress based on the initial aberrant labour pattern

Objective. To determine whether the pattern of cervical dilatation prior to caesarean section for 'failure to progress' can predict the outcome of subsequent tabour. Study design. Single hospital case note review of 171 women delivered by caesarean section for failure to progress and subsequently delivering at the same hospital. Cervicograms were categorized into one of the four patterns by an assessor blinded to the subsequent outcome. Statistical analysis was done by analysis of variance. Results. The incidence of vaginal delivery did not significantly differ between the groups. Conclusion. Categorisation of failure to progress by partographic abnormality does not predict subsequent successful vaginal delivery. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.