Vaginal delivery after caesarean section: a propective study of 146 cases

We report on a series of 146 cases of vaginal delivery after previous Caesarean section conducted between 1993 and 2002 at the University Teaching Hospital, Yaounde (Cameroon). During the period under review 945 cases of Caesarean section were done out of a total of 9 439 deliveries (10 %). Delivery was spontaneous in 141 cases whereas in 5 cases it was assisted by vacuum extraction. In 13 cases Caesarean section was carried out after failure of trial of labour. Maternal mortality, resulting from pulmonary embolism, was observed in 1 case. We conclude that strict selection of patients who had previous Caesarean section for trial of labour renders vaginal delivery a safe alternative to Caesarean section.