Frequency and Indication of Emergency Caesarean Section in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata: Analysis of Secondary Data

Abstract

Background: Increase in caesarean delivery especially in the young primigravida is one of the major concerns in the maternal health. The study was conducted to know about the frequency and indications of emergency caesarean section (CS) preformed in women got admitted directly and through referral in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: The study was based on secondary data taken from Emergency register and labour room log book in the Department of Gynaecology and obstetrics of a tertiary care hospital. Data for all women underwent emergency CS during September 2013 to February 2014 were taken and analysed. Results: Out of total 11,617 deliveries in six months, 2,196 (18.9%) were emergency caesarean. Rate of CS was 13.9% in direct admission group and 37.7% in the referred group. Important indications were previous CS (31.8% and 18.5%), foetal distress (19.0% and 13.3%) and cephalo pelvic disproportion (13.0% and 8.9%) in both the groups. Referrals made for ante partum haemorrhage (7.2%) and eclampsia (7.8%) were highest. Conclusion: CS increases maternal morbidity and cost of delivery, therefore needs attention from public health perspective. Better infrastructure and strengthening of FRUs may reduce rate of referral to the tertiary care.

Keywords

• Caesarean section
• direct admission
• indication
• referral
• tertiary hospital