Effect of cesarean section on perinatal outcome: A case-control study

Abstract

Background: Cesarean section is the surgical intervention which has been saving lives for a long period of time. Despite its importance, there are not many studies on maternal morbidity and mortality with perinatal outcome in patients undergoing elective or emergency cesarean section. Objective: To find out the effect of emergency and an elective cesarean section on maternal and neonatal outcome. Methods: This prospective unmatched case-control study was conducted from July 2012 to June 2013 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Pediatrics of a Medical College of Bengaluru. 300 patients (1:1) along with their babies were selected as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria by simple consecutive sampling after written informed consent. Examination of the patient was done, and all relevant data were obtained, and results were statistically analyzed by SPSS version 24 and Microsoft Office 2016. Results: Maternal complications (both intra- and post-operative) were more in the emergency cesarean section group than in elective cesarean section (p<0.001). Neonatal complications were more common in emergency cesarean section group than in elective cesarean section (p<0.05). Conclusion: Emergency cesarean section causes more morbidity among pregnant women and their babies, which can be reduced by combined efforts at all levels and by encouraging hospital vaginal deliveries of all the primigravida, grand multiparous pregnant women and those who had a previous cesarean section, provided adequate fetal monitoring and operative facilities are available.