Delivery mode for the extremely premature fetus: a statement of the prematurity working group of the World Association of Perinatal Medicine.
Recent retrospective publications have suggested that cesarean delivery may be beneficial for the extremely premature fetus. This article displays the available evidence and discusses this issue, including many aspects such as the difficulty in deciding when delivery is imminent, the negative impact on maternal morbidity and mortality and the cost to society of such a policy. The available scientific evidence does not support a recommendation for cesarean delivery for improving survival or decreasing morbidity for the extremely premature fetus.
Skupski
Daniel W
DW
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. dwskupsk@med.cornell.edu
Greenough
Anne
A
Donn
Stephen M
SM
Arabin
Birgit
B
Bancalari
Eduardo
E
Vladareanu
Radu
R
D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy