Table 1.
Baseline characteristics
| Variables | Single‐layer closure (n = 1144) | Double‐layer closure (n = 1148) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient‐reported * | Age, years | 32.0 (4.7) | 32.1 (4.6) |
| Body‐mass index (kg/m2) | 26.4 (4.6) | 26.6 (4.8) | |
| Continent of origin | |||
| Europe | 963 (95.1%) | 948 (93.4%) | |
| Asia | 20 (2.0%) | 33 (3.3%) | |
| Central or South America | 15 (1.5%) | 15 (1.5%) | |
| Other | 15 (1.5%) | 19 (1.9%) | |
| Current smoker | 62 (6.1%) | 48 (4.7%) | |
| Level of education | |||
| Low | 68 (6.7%) | 70 (6.9%) | |
| Middle | 349 (34.5%) | 329 (32.4%) | |
| High | 591 (58.3%) | 606 (59.7%) | |
| Other | 5 (0.5%) | 10 (1.0%) | |
| Nulliparous | 764 (76.3%) | 764 (76.2%) | |
| Previous miscarriage or abortion | 335 (33.1%) | 313 (30.8%) | |
| Underwent curettage, n/N (%) | 165/335 (49.3%) | 149/312 (47.8%) | |
| Previous ectopic pregnancy | 13 (1.3%) | 18 (1.8%) | |
| Gestational age at CS (weeks) | 39.0 (38.0–39.7) | 39.0 (38.0–39.7) | |
| Preterm delivery < 37 weeks | 133 (13.2%) | 142 (14.0%) | |
| Hypertensive disorder** | 191 (18.9%) | 174 (17.2%) | |
| Diabetes (mellitus or gestational) | 113 (11.2%) | 90 (8.9%) | |
| Characteristics from hospital file | Twin pregnancy | 80 (7.0%) | 91 (7.9%) |
| Prelabour caesarean section, reason | 694 (60.7%) | 705 (61.4%) | |
| Breech presentation, n/N (%) | 373/694 (53.7%) | 395/705 (56.0%) | |
| Placenta praevia, n/N (%) | 62/694 (8.9%) | 56/705 (7.9%) | |
| Traumatic vaginal delivery in the past, n/N (%) | 61/694 (8.8%) | 60/705 (8.5%) | |
| Twin pregnancy, n/N (%) | 42/694 (6.1%) | 37/705 (5.2%) | |
| Other, n/N (%) | 156/694 (22.5%) | 157/705 (22.3%) | |
| Intrapartum caesarean section, reason | 450 (39.3%) | 443 (38.7%) | |
| Failure to progress in 1st stage, n/N (%) | 247/450 (54.9%) | 265/443 (59.7%) | |
| Failure to progress in 2nd stage, n/N (%) | 89/450 (19.8%) | 77/443 (17.3%) | |
| Fetal compromise, n/N (%) | 65/450 (14.4%) | 62/443 (14.0%) | |
| Failed induction, n/N (%) | 18/450 (4.0%) | 17/443 (3.8%) | |
| Other, n/N (%) | 31/450 (7.1%) | 23/443 (5.2%) | |
| Induction of labour | 295 (25.8%) | 283 (24.7%) | |
| Received augmentation with oxytocin | 377 (33.0%) | 393 (34.2%) | |
| Contractions present | 503 (44.0%) | 533 (46.4%) | |
| Dilatation present | 479 (41.9%) | 494 (43.0%) | |
| Dilatation cm | 5 (4–9) | 6 (4–9) | |
| ≤3 cm, n/N (%) | 102/478 (21.3%) | 78/493 (15.8%) | |
| 4–7 cm, n/N (%) | 212/478 (44.4%) | 253/493 (51.3%) | |
| ≥8 cm, n/N (%) | 164/478 (34.3%) | 162/493 (32.9%) | |
| Fetal station at moment of decision | |||
| Elective CS, station unknown, n/N (%) | 594/1070 (55.5%) | 571/1087 (52.5%) | |
| Hodge 0–1, n/N (%) | 339/1070 (31.7%) | 377/1087 (34.7%) | |
| Hodge 2, n/N (%) | 114/1070 (10.7%) | 120/1087 (11.0%) | |
| Hodge 3–4, n/N (%) | 23/1070 (2.1%) | 19/1087 (1.7%) | |
| Emergency CS*** | 80 (7.0) | 90 (7.8) |
Data are means (±SDs), n (%) or medians (IQRs), unless otherwise indicated; N is equal to the total number of patients in the group, unless otherwise indicated; CS, caesarean section.
*
Data available for 1013 (88.5%) women from the single‐layer group and 1015 (88.4%) women from the double‐layer group.
**
Defined as pregnancy‐induced hypertension or pre‐eclampsia/HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome.
***
Defined as severe fetal distress or maternal disease requiring immediate delivery within several minutes.