Should the visceral peritoneum at the bladder flap closed at cesarean sections? A post-partum sonographic and clinical assessment

Abstract

Objective. To compare cesarean section (CS) using open or closed visceral peritoneum of the bladder flap (BF) in relation to fluid collection in vesico-uterine space (VUS) by ultrasound (US) and clinical outcome.

Material and methods.  A prospective cohort of repeat CS in 474 in advanced first and second stage of labor was studied. All women underwent a Misgav Ladach CS, in local combined anesthesia. These were divided into two groups by surgical management of the BF at the time of CS: Group I (n = 262), with visceral peritoneum left open and Group II (n = 212), with visceral peritoneum closed. An US check for the fluid collections in the VUS was done in the third post-operative day. The two groups were also clinically compared for: intra-operative estimated blood loss, the need for post-CS pain killers, febrile morbidity and duration of hospital stay.

Results. Visceral peritoneum (VP) closure resulted in a significant increase blood collections in the VUS (p < 0.05). VP closure resulted in a significantly higher morbidity in all the following parameters. Rate of BFHs, post-operative fever, need for post-operative analgesia, require antibiotic administration and prolonged hospitalisation (p < 0.05).

Conclusions. VP suturing of women requiring CS for dystocia is associated to increased rate of blood collection in the VUS, which could possibly explain the higher rate of puerperal complications in these patients. These data clearly indicate that suturing the VP of the BF in women undergoing CS for dystocia is contraindicated. This data could be probably extrapolated to all cesarean deliveries.

Keywords:

• Cesarean section
• vesico-uterine space
• bladder flap
• ultrasonography
• dystocia
• hematoma

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.