Postoperative febrile morbidity in emergency and elective caesarean sections

Summary

The overall incidence of febrile morbidity among 1414 women who had caesarean section in King Khalid University Hospital was 43.6 per cent. However, while 69.9 per cent of patients who had emergency operation became morbid. only 30.1 per cent of those sectioned electively did. Young age, parity, and the type of abdominal incision all had significant association with the emergency caesarean section febrile morbidity. The postoperative hospital stay was also significantly prolonged among patients who had emergency caesarean section. It was felt that the potential complications associated with the operation should be considered when contemplating delivery by caesarean section in order to reduce the unnecessary febrile morbidity and prolonged stay in hospital by these patients.