Refusal of emergency caesarean delivery in cases of non-reassuring fetal heart rate is an independent risk factor for perinatal mortality

Objective

To assess pregnancy outcome in women who initially refused medically indicated caesarean delivery (CD) in cases of non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns.

Study design

A retrospective cohort study, comparing patients who refused and did not refuse caesarean delivery (CD) due to non-reassuring FHR tracings, was conducted. Deliveries occurred between the years 1988 and 2009 in a tertiary medical center. Multivariate analysis was performed to control for confounders.

Results

Out of 10,944 women who were advised to undergo CD due to non-reassuring FHR patterns, 203 women initially refused CD. Women refusing medical intervention tended to be older (30.6 ± 6.9 vs. 28.29 ± 6.1, P < 0.001) and of higher parity (46.8% vs. 19.9% had more than 5 deliveries; P < 0.001) as compared to the comparison group. Refusal of CD was significantly associated with adverse perinatal outcome. Using a multiple logistic regression model controlling for confounders such as maternal age, refusal of treatment was found as an independent risk factor for perinatal mortality (adjusted OR = 3.3, C.I. 95% 1.8-5.9, P < 0.001). A non-significant trend towards higher rates of adverse perinatal outcome was found when refusal latency time was longer than 20 min (OR = 2, 95% CI 0.36-11.95; P = 0.29).

Conclusion

Refusal of CD in cases of non-reassuring FHR tracings is an independent risk factor for perinatal mortality.