Abstract
A 15 year experience consisting of 643 cesarean sections has brought changes in philosophy reflected in liberalized application of abdominal delivery. Cesarean section should be considered in the following circumstances: breech presentation at term with doubtful pelvic capacity, nondelivery of a mature infant within 24 hours after rupture of the membranes, prolapse of the umbilical cord through an incompletely dilated cervix, desultory labor extending beyond 24 hours, erythroblastosis jeopardizing a viable fetus, and cervical carcinoma or maternal diabetes.