Comparisons of the morbidity outcomes in repeated cesarean sections using midline and Pfannenstiel incisions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate operative complications, operative time, postpartum complications and neonatal outcome in repeated cesarean section between previous low midline and previous Pfannenstiel cesarean section. This was a prospective comparative study conducted at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in pregnant women with indication of repeated cesarean section for either low midline or Pfannenstiel incisions. A total of 320 pregnant women with previous cesarean section were enrolled into two groups: low midline (n = 160) and Pfannenstiel (n = 160) groups. Operative complications, postpartum complications and neonatal outcomes were not statistically different between the groups (P > 0.05). Median times for total operative time (50 vs 50 min, P = 0.833), time from skin incision to the uterus (4 vs 4 min, P = 0.877), and time from uterine incision to fetal delivery (3 vs 2 min, P = 0.871) were comparable between the groups. Operative complications, operative time, postpartum complications and neonatal outcomes were comparable between low midline and Pfannenstiel groups in repeated cesarean sections irrespective of the previous technique used.