ObstetricsOutcome after elective labor induction in nulliparous women: A matched cohort study☆
Section snippets
Patients and methods
The region of Flanders covers 13,524 km2 and has 5.9 million inhabitants. There are 80 maternity-obstetric units: 4 in university hospitals, 15 in teaching hospitals, and 61 in peripheral hospitals. Ninety-five percent of all deliveries are performed or supervised by a gynecologist. Most gynecologists practice in the private sector.
The following data were derived from the existing computer files of the Flemish Centre for Perinatal Epidemiology (SPE). For each newborn of at least 500 g, an
Results
During the study period, the incidence of elective labor induction, which ranged from 10% to 48%, varied greatly between the various Flemish labor wards. Elective labor induction was most frequently performed in the 4 university hospitals (mean, 25%) followed by the teaching hospitals (mean, 23%). The induction ratio in the peripheral hospitals amounted to 20% (P <.001, Mann-Whitney U test).
Table I shows that women with either induced or spontaneous labor were comparable.Empty Cell
Comment
The wide variation in frequency of elective induction between labor wards in the same region was also found by others.4, 5, 6 A Finnish team4 found that the level of specialization of the hospital was a determinant in the incidence of elective induction: the least frequent at the highest level of specialization, the most frequent at the lowest level. Another finding was that the induction practice was not consistent in the hospitals of the same level. Therefore, it was concluded4 that the
References (16)
- et al.
Large differences in obstetrical intervention rates among Dutch hospitals, even after adjustment for population differences
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol
(1996) - et al.
The epidemiology of labor induction: Arizona 1997
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(2000) - et al.
Elective induction of labour: a randomized prospective trial
Lancet
(1975) - et al.
Elective induction of labor as a risk factor for cesarean delivery among low-risk women at term
Obstet Gynecol
(2000) - et al.
Elective induction versus spontaneous labor: a retrospective study of complications and outcome
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(1992) - et al.
Risk of cesarean delivery with elective induction of labor at term in nulliparous women
Obstet Gynecol
(1999) - et al.
Induction of labor and the relationship to cesarean delivery: a review of 7001 consecutive inductions
Am J Obstet Gynecol
(1999) - et al.
Elective induction versus spontaneous labor: a case-control analysis of safety and efficacy
Obstet Gynecol
(1998)
Cited by (174)
The role of labor induction in modern obstetrics
2024, American Journal of Obstetrics and GynecologyNeonatal and maternal outcomes with elective cesarean section compared to induction of labor in twin pregnancies: A prospective cohort study
2023, European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive BiologyHealth resource utilization of labor induction versus expectant management
2020, American Journal of Obstetrics and GynecologyCitation Excerpt :For example, van Gemund et al4 found that women who underwent elective induction were more likely to receive epidural analgesia and have longer hospital stays. Cammu et al8 also documented more frequent epidural use as well as a greater likelihood of NICU admission after elective induction. Seyb et al5 suggested that more resources were used not just in labor and delivery but also during the postpartum stay.
Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes Amongst Nulliparous Singleton Pregnancies Electively Induced at 39 Weeks: A Prospective Observational Study
2023, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India
- ☆
Reprint requests: H. Cammu, MD, Academic Hospital–Free University Brussels, Department of Gynecology, Andrology, and Obstetrics, Laarbeeklaan, 101, B-1090, Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: [email protected].