NIH holds state-of-the-science conference: Caesarean Delivery on Maternal Request, March 27-29, 2006

New information on press conference Wednesday 3/27

JUST ANNOUNCED:
Reporters who are unable to attend Wednesday's 2:00 p.m. press conference can call in by dialing 1-800-857-7003, and entering passcode 4948. This will be similar to a conference call, in which all callers can hear all questions and answers, and pose questions to the panel.

The press conference will be broadcast live via satellite at the following coordinates:

C-Band Galaxy 3C
Transponder: 21C
Orbital Location: 95 degrees west
Downlink Frequency: 4120 H
Audio: 6.2/ 6.8
Test time: 1:30 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET

All conference sessions and the press conference will also be webcast live at http://videocast.nih.gov/.

WHAT:
An independent panel will weigh the available scientific evidence regarding the risks and benefits of Caesarean delivery on maternal request (also referred to as elective Caesarean delivery) on March 27 - 29. The panel will issue a statement of its findings on the final day and will hold a press conference at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29. Convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR), this 2.5 day conference is free and open to members of the public and the media.

Conference speakers' presentations, open discussions, and the panel's statement will focus on these questions:

• What is the trend and incidence of Caesarean delivery over time in the United States and other countries?
• What are the short-term (under one year) and long-term benefits and harms to mother and baby associated with Caesarean by request versus attempted vaginal delivery?
• What factors influence benefits and harms?
• What future research directions need to be considered to get evidence for making appropriate decisions regarding Caesarean on request or attempted vaginal delivery?

WHEN:
Monday, March 27, 2006, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006, 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 29, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Press Conference: Wednesday, March 29, 2006, 2:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Natcher Conference Center
NIH Main Campus - Building 45
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Campus visitor information: http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor/index.htm
The conference will also be webcast live at http://videocast.nih.gov/.

WHY:
The potential benefits of elective Caesarean delivery as compared to vaginal delivery are not yet fully understood. Both approaches carry risks and benefits, and any decision to deliver by Caesarean delivery when vaginal delivery is also available should be informed by the best possible information regarding potential health outcomes, good and bad, for both mother and baby. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and OMAR have planned the upcoming conference to stimulate a critical review of the available evidence and to identify directions for future research.

BACKGROUND:
The conference is sponsored by OMAR and NICHD, through the NIH Consensus Development Program.

Two pertinent backgrounders are available at http://consensus.nih.gov/forthemedia.htm. One introduces technical content to be discussed at the conference and another describes the features of the NIH Consensus Development Program.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Conference agenda, speakers, logistics, and online registration are available at http://consensus.nih.gov/.

To schedule interviews, please contact Kelli Marciel by e-mail at marcielk@od.nih.gov or by phone at (301) 496-4819.

NOTE TO RADIO EDITORS:
An audio report of the conference results will be available after 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 from the NIH Radio News Service by calling 1-800-MED-DIAL (1-800-633-3425) or visiting http://www.nih.gov/news/radio/index.htm.

NOTE TO TV EDITORS:
The press conference at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, will be broadcast live via satellite. For satellite coordinates, see above.

The Office of the Director, the central office at NIH, is responsible for setting policy for NIH, which includes 27 Institutes and Centers. This involves planning, managing, and coordinating the programs and activities of all NIH components. The Office of the Director also includes program offices which are responsible for stimulating specific areas of research throughout NIH. Additional information is available at http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

This NIH News Release is available online at: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2006/od-27.htm.

Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 21 Feb 2009
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