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Updated: Apr 4, 2026

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
Failed induction of labor
Corina Schoen1, Reshama Navathe1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sidney Kimmel Medical School at Thomas Jefferson University, 833 Chestnut St, 1st floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christiana Care Hospital, Newark, DE.
Induction of labor will affect almost a quarter of all pregnancies, but historically there has been no generally accepted definition of failed induction of labor. Only recently have studies analyzed the lengths of latent labor that are associated with successful labor induction ending in a vaginal delivery, and recommendations for uniformity in the diagnosis of failed induction have largely resulted from this data. This review assesses the most recent and inclusive definition for failed induction, risk factors associated with failure, complications, and special populations that may be at risk for a failed induction.
Induction of labor will affect almost a quarter of all pregnancies, but historically there has been no generally accepted definition of failed induction of labor. Only recently have studies analyzed the lengths of latent labor that are associated with successful labor induction ending in a vaginal delivery, and recommendations for uniformity in the diagnosis of failed induction have largely resulted from this data. This review assesses the most recent and inclusive definition for failed induction, risk factors associated with failure, complications, and special populations that may be at risk for a failed induction.

