Antenatal betamethasone administration before elective caesarean section in term pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to show that respiratory problems such as respiratory distressed syndrome and transient tachypnea of newborn can be reduced by antenatal betamethasone administration. Method: The study was conducted on 50 mothers and their babies aged between 21 and 38 years in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital between January 2007 and March 2008. Betamethasone was administered to 25 patients who were planned for cesarean section at term due to elective reasons (Group I). The Group II consisted of 25 patients planned for elective caesarean section at term and no betamethasone was administered. Groups were compared according to maternal age, maternal smoking, maternal chronic disease history, gestation day, cesarean section type of anesthesia, birth weight and sex of the baby. Postnatal infants were evaluated according to Apgar scores of 1 and 5 minutes, ventilation with mask, intubation, resuscitation or intensive care needs. RDS and TNT were recorded. Results: I n the non-corticosteroid-treated group (group 2), two babies developed TNT of the newborn. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups (p> 0.05). Respiratory distress syndrome did not develop in any of our patients. The abortion rate in Group I (20%) was significantly higher than the abortion rate in Group II (0%) (p 0.05). Conclusions: T he use of antenatal corticosteroid in elective caesarean sections over 37 weeks may cause a decrease in the development of respiratory problems such as RDS and YGT.