An audit of caesarean sections for very low birth weight babies

Abstract

This study reviewed caesarean sections for very low birth weight babies in a tertiary referral maternity hospital. Maternal and neonatal complications were recorded and classified according to uterine incision type. We reviewed medical records of 89 women over a period of 2 years. The indication for the caesarean section influenced the type of uterine incision made (p = 0.004). Women who had antepartum haemorrhage were more likely to need a vertical incision. There was also a higher incidence of vertical incisions for gestations <28 weeks (p = 0.029). Surprisingly, when the computerised discharge summaries were reviewed retrospectively, all the vertical uterine incisions were recorded as lower segment caesarean sections. This would have a clinical impact on those women in future pregnancies, especially in a highly mobile population.

Keywords:

• Caesarean section
• neonatal outcome
• pre-term delivery
• uterine rupture
• vaginal birth after caesarean section
• very low birth weight babies

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