Early Amniotomy and Risk of Cesarean Section in Primigravida in Al-Bayda Medical Center, Libya

Abstract

One of the most practical procedures in obstetric practice is artificial rupture of membranes, or amniotomy, to hasten the progression of labor. In order to prevent dystocia in women who go into labor on their own, early amniotomy has been recommended recently. This study aims to determine the effectiveness and safety of performing early amniotomy in shortening the duration of spontaneous labor in primigravida women, and its association with the risk of cesarean delivery. A prospective controlled study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Al-Bayda Medical Center. One hundred women were divided into two groups: group I involved 50 women (early amniotomy), and control group II involved 50 women (no amniotomy). The mean duration of labor was significantly shorter in the early amniotomy group (6.59 ± 1.22 hours) compared to the control group (8.85 ± 1.15 hours), with a highly significant difference (t = −8.60, p < 0.001). Early amniotomy was associated with a marked reduction in total labor duration. An early amniotomy effectively contributes to accelerating labor progress and reducing its duration, and is associated with a decreased need for oxytocin induction, thereby enhancing the chances of natural delivery. The findings also indicated that this procedure does not lead to a significant increase in cesarean delivery rates.