[Prognosis for delivery in women with previous cesarean section. Apropos of 209 cases].

The authors have attempted to show the following with the help of 209 cases of delivery in women who had previously had Caesarean sections: Vaginal delivery is possible in approximately one out of every two cases, providing certain precautions have been taken and these are: Maternal morbidity rises to about 12% when a woman is delivered after a previous Caesarean section, whether the delivery is vaginal or, a repeat Caesarean. Furthermore, morbidity rises greatly after a failure of a trial of labour for which the indications should be very carefully considered. The outlook for the fetus is better after a vaginal delivery.

[Prevention of rupture of the uterus before or during birth in women with previous caesarian sections: report on 14 cases (author's transl)].

Based on 14 cases observed during 230 deliveries of women with previous caesarian sections, the authors attempt in define those factors that may weaken hysterotomy scars and provoke uterine rupture. Factors at risk are defined, and can be assessed from the medical history (parity, number of previous caesarians, period since last section, postoperative fever, placenta praevia as the indication for a caesarian, curettage after the operation), and the clinical findings during the present pregnancy (height of the uterus, placenta praevia). Hysterography is an excellent means of evaluating the state of cicatrisation, but this investigational method is rarely available.