Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2001 Feb;15(1):49-61.
Physical sequelae of caesarean section.
Jackson N, Paterson-Brown S.
Queen Charlotte's Hospital, Goldhawk Road, London, UK.
The complications and recovery from caesarean section are dominated by the
medical condition of the woman pre-operatively. Evidence regarding risks
directly attributable to the caesarean section is scanty, and often derived
from obstetric practice that differs from the current day. Mortality
associated with the procedure is anything up to five times that for vaginal
delivery, with emergency caesarean section associated with almost twice the
risk of elective procedures. Data regarding placenta praevia and placenta
praevia-accreta come from population series where antibiotics were not
routinely used for caesarean section, but there is no doubt that previous
caesarean section increases the risk of both. Antibiotic and
thromboprophylaxis at the time of caesarean section decrease morbidity in
the index pregnancy, but can also reasonably be expected to reduce future
pregnancy complications.
