Surgical complications of cesarean section

Abstract

Introduction/Objective. Cesarean section birth rate has been constantly increasing worldwide over the last decades. The complications of cesarean section that require relaparotomy are rather serious and relatively rare. The aim of this paper is to present the incidence of surgical complications after Cesarean section at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia, during a three-year period (2013–2015). Methods. This is a retrospective study. Data obtained from the medical records/histories were used and processed according to descriptive statistical methods. Results. During the observed period, relaparotomy was necessary in 29 (0.44%) women who had a CS. Relaparotomy was performed due to clinically and ultrasonographically evidenced hematoma of the anterior abdominal wall, retroperitoneal hematoma, hemoperitoneum, and development of hemorrhagic shock, complete wound dehiscence or diffuse peritonitis. There were no lethal outcomes after CS followed by these complications at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Serbia in Belgrade. Conclusion. The incidence of relaparotomy in our study is similar to other tertiary institutions, as well as the indications for relaparotomy. While generally observed mortality rate after post-cesarean relaparotomy in developed countries is 2.7%, in our study there were no lethal outcomes. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175023]

Keywords

• surgical complications
• caesarean section
• relaparotomy