Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
Elective repeat cesarean delivery compared with spontaneous trial of labor after a prior cesarean delivery: a
Sharon A Gilbert1, William A Grobman, Mark B Landon
1The George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine outcomes, after the use of propensity score techniques, to create balanced groups according to whether a woman undergoes elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD) or trial of labor (TOL).
Study Design:
Women who were eligible for a TOL with 1 previous low transverse incision were categorized according to whether they underwent an ERCD or TOL. A propensity score technique was used to develop ERCD and TOL groups with comparable baseline characteristics. Outcomes were assessed with conditional logistic regression.
Results:
The rates of endometritis, operative injury, respiratory distress syndrome, and newborn infant infection were lower and the rates of hysterectomy and wound complication were higher in the ERCD group.
Conclusion:
Propensity score techniques can be used to generate comparable ERCD and TOL groups. Some types of maternal morbidity (such as hysterectomy) are higher; other types (such as operative injury) are lower in the ERCD group. Although the absolute risk is low, neonatal morbidity appears to be lower in the ERCD group.
