Cesarean section is not protective against adverse neurological outcome in survivors of preterm delivery due to overt chorioamnionitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the mode of delivery has a protective value on the immediate adverse neonatal neurological outcome of infants born from pregnancies complicated by preterm chorioamnionitis.


METHODS
A comparison of the immediate and long-term neurological outcome of preterm neonates (24-34 weeks' gestation) of pregnancies complicated by chorioamnionitis, was made between those born by Cesarean section and by vaginal delivery.


RESULTS
Of the 73 newborns, 54 (74%) survived the neonatal period; two (2.7%) had incomplete records, leaving 71 for analysis. Thirty (42.2%) were delivered by Cesarean section and 41 (57.7%) vaginally. The obstetric and neonatal characteristics were comparable. Twenty-four (80%) survived in the Cesarean group and 30 (73.2%) in the vaginal delivery group (NS). There was no significant difference in the immediate adverse neonatal neurological outcome between Cesarean and vaginal deliveries.


CONCLUSIONS
The mode of delivery did not significantly affect the immediate neurological status of preterm infants exposed to antenatal intrauterine infection.
Grisaru-Granovsky
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shoaare-Zedek Medical Center Jerusalem, affiliated to Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Schimmel
M S
MS
Granovsky
R
R
Diamant
Y Z
YZ
Samueloff
A
A
D002585:Cesarean Section; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies