What we have learned about scheduling elective repeat cesarean delivery at term.
The optimal timing of delivery in the setting of various clinical conditions and scenarios remains one of the most common questions for obstetric providers. Over the past 5-10 years, the optimal timing of delivery at term, particularly for elective repeat cesareans, has been the subject of considerable investigation and discussion. There is an increasing consensus that when women opt for an elective repeat cesarean delivery, it should be performed at term rather than preterm. The recent redefinition of the "term" period into early term (37-38 weeks), full-term (39-40 weeks), late term (41 weeks), and post term designations (≥42 weeks) underscores observed heterogeneity in outcomes following delivery at term. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently recommends that elective repeat cesarean delivery be performed at full-term. Herein, the available data to support this recommendation regarding timing of elective repeat cesarean delivery are reviewed, including contributions from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Women׳s Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Electronic address: atita@uab.edu.
Alan T N
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Tita
D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors
Early-term delivery; Elective delivery; Full-term delivery; Repeat cesarean delivery