Induction of labour - what influences outcomes?
<h3>Objectives</h3> To identify predictors of vaginal delivery following induction of labour. <h3>Method</h3> A retrospective review of 200 consecutive case notes from women induced in a London teaching hospital over 13 months, between January 2009 to January 2010. <h3>Results</h3> 9% of women had a documented body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 at booking. 58% had a vaginal delivery (spontaneous or assisted). 5% of women being induced were aged over 40% and 50% had a vaginal delivery. 61% of the patient population were Caucasian, of whom 70% had a vaginal delivery. 19% were Asian and 56% of them delivered vaginally compared to 46% of the African population. 60% of primigravidae patients delivered vaginally compared to 85% of mutiparous patients. 16% were induced for hypertension, 40% for postmaturity, 9% for prolonged rupture of membranes and 15% for gestational diabetes, all achieving similar vaginal delivery rates. 43% of the diabetic patients were Asian. 88% required induction with prostaglandins, 9% by artificial rupture of membranes and 3% with syntocinon augmentation following spontaneous rupture of membranes. 40% of patients had a spontaneous vaginal delivery and 24% had an instrumental delivery. 36% of women had an emergency Caesarean, 15% for fetal distress, 13% for failure to progress and 8% for failure to enter established labour. <h3>Conclusion</h3> These data suggest that Caucasian ethnicity and multiparity were positive predictors for vaginal delivery, while BMI, indication for induction and maternal age over 40 did not influence mode of delivery.