A retrospective study regarding the method of delivery of adolescents in a Romanian Hospital.

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancies are associated with a high number of risks for the newborn and mother. Hence, an increased number of emergency caesarean extractions are performed in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the pregnancy-related conditions, the way of delivery and the neonatal outcome of all the patients who delivered in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, a tertiary unit in Romania in a period of 5 years. An observational, retrospective study was performed on a group of 686 patients, aged 12 to 19 years, who delivered in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Emergency Hospital in Bucharest, between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2018. The pregnant women were divided into two age groups. In the first group were pregnant patients aged under 18 years, and in the second group pregnant adolescents between 18 and 19 years. Whether the patients underwent prenatal screening was analyzed. Furthermore, the age of the patients, the rate of caesarean extraction and vaginal birth and the obstetrical complications were evaluated and compared. The outcome of the newborns was assessed based on Apgar score at 1 min and birth weight. Regarding the results, 464 of the 686 patients did not undergo any medical visits during pregnancy. In total, 52.76% of the patients delivered by caesarean section. The most frequent indications for caesarean extraction, in both analyzed groups, were Cephalo-pelvic disproportion, fetal distress and uterine scar after caesarean section. The lack of specific protocols regarding the ante-, peri- and post-natal management of adolescents is probably the cause of the alarmingly increasing number of patients pertaining to the group who deliver by caesarean section.