title: Use of electrocautery for coagulation and wound complications in Caesarean sections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety of electrocautery for coagulation during Caesarean sections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled, clinical pilot study was performed at a university maternity hospital. After admission for delivery and decision to perform a C-section, volunteers were randomized to either the intervention group (use of electrocautery for coagulation) or nonintervention group. The women were examined at the time of postpartum discharge (day 3), at days 7 to 10, and again at days 30 to 40 for signs of infection, hematoma, seroma, or dehiscence. Data were analyzed using an intention-to-treat analysis, and risk ratios were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between the two groups. Only 2.8% of patients in the intervention group developed surgical wound complications during hospitalization. However, 7 to 10 days following discharge, these rates reached 23.0% and 15.4% in the intervention and nonintervention groups, respectively (RR = 1.50, 95% CI = 0.84-2.60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies should confirm whether the use of electrocautery for coagulation does not increase the risk of surgical wound complications in patients undergoing Caesarean sections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (PUCCAMP), Avenida Jonh Boind Dunlop s/n, 13100 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (UNICAMP), Rua Alexander Fleming, 101 Cidade Universitária, 13083-881 Campinas, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amaral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult