Cesarean delivery among women with prolonged labor induction

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine characteristics associated with cesarean delivery among women with labor induction lasting over 24 h. Study design: Women with live singleton pregnancies without prior cesarean delivery undergoing a labor induction lasting >24 h between September 2006 and March 2009 at Duke University Hospital were identified. Collected variables were compared between subjects by mode of delivery. A multivariate logistic regression model for the outcome cesarean delivery was constructed separately for nulliparous and parous women. Results: There were 303 women who met inclusion criteria. The overall cesarean delivery rate was 57% (n=172) and remained constant with time (P=0.15, test-for-trend). Nulliparous women having a cesarean delivery were more likely to be obese [adjusted OR (aOR) 2.00; 95% CI 1.05, 3.80] and have a larger fetus [aOR 1.11 (aOR for every 100 g increase in birthweight), 95% CI 1.03, 1.20] compared to those having a vaginal delivery. Conclusion: Increasing BMI and birthweight were independent predictors of cesarean delivery among nulliparous women with prolonged labor induction. Despite this, after 24 h of labor induction, the overall mean cesarean delivery rate remained constant at 57%, and did not change with time. Among women having a vaginal delivery following a prolonged labor induction, we saw high rates of shoulder dystocia, operative vaginal delivery and severe perineal laceration.