Obstructed uterine venous return: a preventable cause of dysfunctional labor?

Dysfunctional labor is a common cause of cesarean delivery and may be caused by myometrial hypoxia. Obstruction of uterine venous return due to compression of the inferior vena cava by the gravid uterus or the abdominal wall may be an auxiliary cause of myometrial hypoxia which aggravates other causes.