title: Supplemental oxygen for the prevention of postcesarean infectious morbidity: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate whether supplemental oxygen during and for 2 hours after cesarean delivery reduces the incidence of postcesarean infectious morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, controlled trial from 2008-2010. Women who underwent cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to receive either 2 L of oxygen by nasal cannula during cesarean delivery only (standard care) or 10 L of oxygen by nonrebreather mask (intervention group) during and for 2 hours after cesarean delivery. Women who underwent scheduled or intrapartum cesarean delivery were eligible and were observed for 1 month after the procedure. The primary composite outcome was maternal infectious morbidity, which included endometritis and wound infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred eighty-five women were included in the final analysis. Infectious morbidity occurred in 8.8% of patients in the standard care group and in 12.2% of patients in the supplemental oxygen group. There was no significant difference in the rate of infectious morbidity between the standard care and intervention groups (relative risk, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-2.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplemental oxygen does not reduce the rate of postcesarean delivery infectious morbidity, including endometritis and wound infection.
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors: Christina M
authors: CM
authors: Scifres
authors: Barbara L
authors: BL
authors: Leighton
authors: Patricia J
authors: PJ
authors: Fogertey
authors: George A
authors: GA
authors: Macones
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Stamilio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome