A 10 year comparative study of caesarean deliveries using the Robson 10 group classification system in a university hospital in Austria

Objective The Robson ten group classification system is used as a global standard for assessing, monitoring and comparing caesarean delivery (CD) rates within and between maternity services. Our objective was to compare the changes of CD rates at our institution between the years 2008-2010 and 2017-2019 using the Robson ten group classification system. Study design Data was collected retrospectively and all women were classified using the obstetric concepts and parameters described in the Robson ten group classification system. Results During 2008-2010 7,832 deliveries were performed, increasing to 9,490 in 2017-2019. The CD rate also increased from 29.1% to 32.2% (p<.05) during this 10 year period. In both observed periods group 5 (single cephalic multiparous women at term with a previous CD) was the largest contributor to the overall CD rate accounting for 20.2% of all CD during 2008-2010 and increasing to 26.9% in 2017-2019 (p<.001). The overall size of group 5 also increased from 8.3% to 11.6% (p<.001). Furthermore, an increase in CD rate in group 7 (multiparous women with a single breech pregnancy, including women with a uterine scar) from 92.9% to 98.2% (p = .752) could be observed. In group 8 (women with multiple pregnancies, including women with a uterine scar) a slight shift towards vaginal delivery (VD) can be reported with CD rates decreasing from 82% to 79.2% (p = .784). There was no observed difference with CD rates in group 1 although the group size decreased from 29.4% in 2008-2010 to 24.2% in 2017-2019 (p<.001). The CD rate in group 10 experienced a slight elevation, in 2008-2010 46.2% were delivered per CD and in 2017-2019 48.8% (p = .553). The overall size of group 10 decreased, contributing 8.9% in 2008-2010 and 8% in 2017-2019 (p<.05) to the overall birthrate. Conclusion The biggest contributors to the CD rate in our hospital remain multiparous women at term with a previous CD. The CD rates, as well as the overall size of this group, keep rising, resulting in a need to establish more effective ways to motivate women with one previous CD towards vaginal birth after caesarean delivery (VBAC). Furthermore, the CD rate in preterm deliveries is increasing and approaching 50%. This illustrates the need to discuss whether CD is the appropriate mode of delivery in half of the preterm infants.