In a study in Israel, two thirds of women with a history of failed vacuum-assisted delivery had success with a subsequent trial of labor after cesarean.
To reduce maternal morbidity and healthcare costs associated with cesarean delivery, many providers continue to encourage vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) in appropriate candidates. Vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries (VAVD) account for 3% of all deliveries, and failure rates of attempted VAVD range from 5% to 10%. Although the overall success rate of trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) is as high as 80%, few studies have addressed this success rate specifically in patients who required cesarean delivery after a failed VAVD.
In a retrospective cohort study in Israel, among 113 patients with previous failed VAVD who attempted a TOLAC in their next pregnancy, 76 (67%) went on to have a successful VBAC. Among the 37 failed TOLAC attempts, 2…
Reviewing Author
Erin H. Burnett, MD, FACOG
Erin H. Burnett, MD, FACOG