Richards 1985.
| Study characteristics | ||
| Methods | Prospective randomised controlled trial. Women individually randomised. 2 treatment arms. | |
| Participants | 102 women randomised. Inclusion criteria: pregnant women with 1 previous caesarean section. Exclusion criteria: previous caesarean section used a classical uterine incision |
|
| Interventions |
Intervention group: 52 women allocated to receive X‐ray pelvimetry at 36 weeks' gestation. If the pelvic inlet was < 10.5 cm in the antero‐posterior diameter or < 11. 5 cm in the transverse diameter, an elective caesarean section was performed. A trial of scar was performed on the rest. Comparison group: 50 women allocated to no antenatal pelvimetry and all women had a trial of scar. Spontaneous labour was awaited. X‐ray pelvimetry was performed postpartum. |
|
| Outcomes | 1. Mode of delivery 2. Pelvimetry measurements 3. Birthweight 4. Average stay in hospital |
|
| Notes | 2 stillbirths occurred in the control prior to the onset of labour, both were thought to be due to post maturity. Both scar dehiscences were diagnosed by bimanual examination following normal vaginal deliveries, and repaired by laparotomy without any further complication. Trial took place at King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban. Funding source: not stated. Dates study was conducted: unclear Declarations of interest of primary researchers: unclear |
|
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | "Randomly allocated to two groups." No further information given. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Not mentioned. |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes | High risk | No blinding. Knowledge of treatment group may have affected clinical treatment. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes | High risk | Some of the outcomes may have been affected by lack of blinding. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Unclear risk | Denominators not given in results tables. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | Outcomes not prespecified in text. |
| Other bias | Unclear risk | No other bias apparent. |