title: Maternal and fetal effect of misgav ladach cesarean section in nigerian women: a randomized control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The poor utilisation of the Misgav-Ladach (ML) caesarean section method in our environment despite its proven advantage has been attributed to several factors including its non-evaluation. A well designed and conducted trial is needed to provide evidence to convince clinician of its advantage over Pfannenstiel based methods.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of ML based caesarean section among Nigerian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled open label study of 323 women undergoing primary caesarean section in Lagos Nigeria. The women were randomised to either ML method or Pfannenstiel based (PB) caesarean section technique using computer generated random numbers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean duration of surgery (P < 0.001), time to first bowel motion (P = 0.01) and ambulation (P < 0.001) were significantly shorter in the ML group compared to PB group. Postoperative anaemia (P < 0.01), analgesic needs (P = 0.02), extra suture use, estimated blood loss (P < 0.01) and post-operative complications (P = 0.001) were significantly lower in the ML group compared to PB group. Though the mean hospital stay was shorter (5.8 days) in the ML group as against 6.0 days, the difference was not significant statistically (P = 0.17). Of the fetal outcome measures compared, it was only in the fetal extraction time that there was significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.001). The mean fetal extraction time was 162 sec in ML group compared to 273 sec in the PB group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed the already established benefit of ML techniques in Nigerian women, as it relates to the postoperative outcomes, duration of surgery, and fetal extraction time. The technique is recommended to clinicians as its superior maternal and fetal outcome and cost saving advantage makes it appropriate for use in poor resource setting.
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Unit, Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oc
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ezechi
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Unit, Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Pm
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ezeobi
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Unit, Clinical Sciences Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Cv
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gab-Okafor
authors.affiliation: Newcapstone Specialist Hospital, Ijesha, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edet
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Havana Specialist Hospital, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ca
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nwokoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rao Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akinlade
keywords: Cesarean section; Maternal and neonatal morbidity; Misgav Ladach