Associations between the Safe Prevention of Primary Cesarean Delivery Care Consensus and Maternal/Neonatal Outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to compare cesarean delivery (CD) rates and maternal/neonatal outcomes before and after the 2014 ACOG/SMFM Obstetric Care Consensus for Safe Prevention of Primary CD.

Study Design: This retrospective study compared unscheduled CD rates and outcomes of singleton, cephalic, term pregnancies at a tertiary-care teaching maternity hospital. Births 5 years before (March 2009-February 2014) and after (June 2014-May 2019) release of the consensus were included. Chi-square and -test were used to compare outcomes and logistic regression to adjust for confounders.

Results: In this study, 44,001 pregnancies were included, 20,887 before and 23,114 after the consensus. Unscheduled CD rates increased after the consensus (12.9 vs. 14.3%,  < 0.001); however, there was no difference after adjustment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91-1.03). Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) deliveries increased among multiparas (4.8 vs. 7.2%,  < 0.001), which remained significant after adjustment (aOR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.37-1.66). Postpartum hemorrhage, blood transfusion, and chorioamnionitis were modestly increased, while third-degree perineal lacerations decreased. Uterine rupture and neonatal outcomes were unchanged after adjustment.

Conclusion: At our tertiary-care maternity hospital, the Safe Prevention of Primary CD Care Consensus was not associated with a change in unscheduled CD, though VBAC deliveries increased. We did not demonstrate improved neonatal outcomes and showed increased maternal morbidity that warrants further study.

Key Points: · Consensus did not change unscheduled cesarean rates.. · Consensus associated with increased hemorrhage.. · Institutional outcomes can assist implementing changes..