Maternal morbidity after elective repeat caesarean section after two or more previous procedures.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of maternal morbidity following elective caesarean section in women with a history of at least two previous caesarean sections, and to determine if the incidence of morbidity correlates with the number of previous sections.


METHODS
We conducted an individual chart review of all women who had an elective caesarean section because of a history of two previous sections from 1990 to 1999.


RESULTS
There were 67,097 deliveries of babies weighing 500 g or more. The total number of cases eligible for the study was 250. There were 12 cases (4.8%) of placenta praevia of which four required a transfusion and two a hysterectomy. The incidence of wound infection was 6.3% and urinary tract infection was 11.2%. There were no cases of thromboembolism recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal morbidity with elective repeat caesarean section is low. The major morbidity is associated with placenta praevia. We found no correlation between the incidence of maternal morbidity and the number of previous sections.
Lynch
Caoimhe M
CM
Coombe Women's Hospital, 8, Dublin, Ireland.
Kearney
Rohna
R
Turner
Michael J
MJ
D017604:Cesarean Section, Repeat / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010923:Placenta Previa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000293:injuries; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology