title: Predictive value of striae gravidarum severity for intraperitoneal adhesions or uterine scar healing in patients with previous caesarean delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous abdominal operations might cause severe intraperitoneal adhesions (IPA), which can complicate caesarean section (CS) procedures. When selecting the mode and timing of delivery, obstetricians are also curious about uterine scar healing if the previous operation was a CS. Uterine scar thickness is an indicator of uterine scar healing. We aimed to evaluate the possible predictive value of striae gravidarum (SG) on IPA formation and uterine scar thickness (UST).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five women with a previous CS history were evaluated for SG Davey Score. They were investigated for IPAs and lower segment uterine scar thickness during the current CS operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the patients with no SG (n = 11), mild SG (n = 10) and severe SG (n = 34), 1 (9.1%), 3 (30%) and 17 (50%) had IPA, respectively (p = 0.044). The mean uterine scar thicknesses in the no SG, mild SG and severe SG groups were 3.82 ± 4.04, 5.20 ± 4.13 and 5.18 ± 3.52, respectively (p = 0.561).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study to investigate the relationship between SG and IPA and uterine scar thickness. The SG status of a patient with a previous delivery and abdominal operation history might help predict IPA status before planning a new operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and.
authors.forename: Ayse Nur
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cakir Gungor
authors.forename: Sevilay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.forename: Servet
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hacivelioglu
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Isik
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Meryem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gencer
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cosar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D057896:Striae Distensae / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Caesarean scar; intraabdominal adhesions; stretch marks