Multiple cesarean sections may result in worse subsequent maternal and fetal outcomes

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

A recent study determined that women with multiple cesarean sections are prone to have uterine scar rupture and abnormal placentation in the subsequent pregnancies.

Scientists at the Prince Rhashed Hospital in Jordan conducted the study "to evaluate the complications, and to determine maternal and fetal risks in women who undergo 3 or more cesarean sections (CS), compared to those with one or 2 cesarean deliveries." Their study was "a retrospective analysis of 2276 CS performed between 1 January 2003 and 31 April 2005."

H.S. Qublan and Y. Tahat stated, "We divided patients into 3 groups: Group 1 = with 1 previous CS (n83); Group 2 = 2 previous CS (nx1); and Group 3 = greater than or equal to3 previous CS (n12). Compared to women with one or 2 cesarean deliveries, women who had greater than or equal to3 CS show significant increase in terms of prolonged operative time, uterine scar dehiscence, uterine rupture, placenta previa, placental adherence, and mild adhesion formation."

"We found no significant differences between the 3 study groups in terms of injury to surrounding structures, need for blood transfusion, anesthesia complications, hematoma formation, thromboembolism, and incisional hernia," the researchers noted. "Apgar score >7 at one and 5 minutes, neonatal intensive care unit, multiple pregnancy rate, premature delivery rate and perinatal death rate, all were similar in the 3 groups."

The authors concluded, "Women with multiple CS (greater than or equal to3) are significantly prone to have uterine scar rupture and abnormal placentation in the subsequent pregnancies compared to those with one or 2 previous cesarean deliveries. Despite that, maternal and neonatal outcome did differ from patients with lower-order cesarean sections."

Qublan and Tahat published their study in the Saudi Medical Journal (Multiple cesarean section - The impact on maternal and fetal outcome. Saudi Med J, 2006;27(2):210-214).

For more information, contact H.S. Qublan, Prince Rhashed Hospital, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, P.O. Box 97, Irbid-Aidoun, Jordan; E-mail: hqublan@yahoo.com.

Publisher contact information for the Saudi Medical Journal is: Saudi Med J, Armed Forces Hospital, P.O. Box 7897, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: Irbid-Aidoun, Jordan, Cesarean Section, C-section, Pregnancy, Childbirth, Fetal Outcome, Maternal Outcome, Pregnancy Complications, Women's Health. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.

To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com.