Routine cervical dilatation during elective cesarean delivery – Is it really necessary?

Abstract

Objective. To examine the necessity of routine cervical dilatation during elective cesarean delivery (ECD).

Material and methods. A retrospective cohort study including all ECD during 2005 was performed, comparing post operative complications between patients with and without cervical dilatation.

Results. Out of 666 ECD, 348 underwent routine cervical dilatation. No significant differences were found between the cervical dilatation and the comparison group regarding postpartum febrile morbidity (5.1 and 3.1%, respectively; p = 0.071), hospitalisation duration (4.1 ± 1.4 and 4.1 ± 2.0 days; p = 0.95), wound infection (0.9% and 1.25%, p = 0.451) or anemia rate (9.50 ± 0.73 and 9.54 ± 0.65, p = 0.91). Nevertheless, among patients following a previous vaginal delivery, cervical dilatation was significantly associated with post-operative fever (OR = 5.8; 95%CI 1.2–38.0; p = 0.021).

Conclusion. Routine cervical dilatation during ECD does not reduce post operative morbidity. Moreover, among patients with a previous vaginal delivery cervical dilatation is a risk factor for febrile morbidity.

Keywords:

• Elective cesarean delivery
• routine cervical dilatation
• post operative complications