Association and Determinants of Decision Delivery Interval of Emergency Caesarean Sections and Perinatal Outcome in a Tertiary Institution

Abstract

Introduction: A Decision to Delivery Interval (DDI) of 30 minutes for emergency caesarean section has been widely recommended but there is little evidence to support it. This target may not be practicable in a busy maternity unity and therefore, the anticipated beneficial effect on neonatal outcome requires re-evaluation. Aim: To determine the association between decision-delivery interval and perinatal outcome of emergency caesarean section at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA) over a period of four years. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of the cases in emergency caesarean sections performed at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AEFUTHA from 1st January 2012 to 1st January 2016. Hospital records of the women with singleton pregnancy at term who delivered through emergency caesarean sections were retrieved. Data extracted include socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, duration between decision for caesarean section and intervention, indications for the caesarean section, reasons for delay in DDI, association between booking status and DDI and association of DDI and foetal outcome, APGAR score at 1st and 5th minutes and admission to NICU. Data were analysed with IBM statistics version 20. The p-value 75 minutes and poor perinatal outcome. Efforts should be made to strengthen the health system and improve the quality of care in order to keep DDI within this time limit for improved perinatal health outcome and indices.

Keywords

• cephalopelvic disproportion
• delays
• newborn intensive care unit
• singleton pregnancy