Indications for cesarean deliveries in Norway.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the indications for cesarean deliveries in Norway, related to type of operation, parity, and gestational age.


METHODS
This was a prospective survey that used information provided by clinicians at 24 maternity units. Two thousand seven hundred seventy-eight cesarean deliveries were included, which represents 69.7% of all cesarean deliveries in Norway during the study period.


RESULTS
The cesarean delivery rate varied by maternal and gestational age, parity, and hospital of delivery. Seven indications accounted for 77.7% of the operations: fetal stress (21.9%), failure to progress (20.7%), previous cesarean delivery (8.9%), breech presentation >or=34 weeks of gestation (8.4%), maternal request (7.6%), preeclampsia (6.2%) and failed induction (4.0%). Of the total deliveries, 64.3% were emergency operations.


CONCLUSIONS
Accurate information about indications for cesarean deliveries in Norway has been obtained. Two thirds of all deliveries were emergency operations; the most important indications were fetal stress and failure to progress. In the elective cesarean delivery group, the two most important indications were previous cesarean delivery and maternal request.
Kolås
Toril
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lillehammer County Hospital, Norway.
Hofoss
Dag
D
Daltveit
Anne K
AK
Nilsen
Stein T
ST
Henriksen
Tore
T
Häger
Renate
R
Ingemarsson
Ingemar
I
Øian
Pål
P
D000328:Adult; D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D001719:Birth Certificates; D001946:Breech Presentation; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D009664:Norway; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000601:surgery