Cesarean Delivery , Emergency : Risks/Benefits

Risks/Benefits:

1.Risks:

-infection;

-injury to maternal tissues and internal organs;

-injury to fetus at delivery;

-need for application of vacuum or forceps to expedite delivery in cesarean section;

-10% of patients undergoing emergent CD require transfusion due to severe maternal hemorrhage;

-risks of transfusion reactions and acquired infections from blood products;

-risk of hysterectomy for intractable uterine hemorrhage;

-risk from administration of aneathesia;

2.Benefits:

-decrease in short- and long-term morbidity;

-in cases of severe maternal hemorrhage , maternal morbidity and mortality are decreased.

Complications:

1-Infection:

-wound infection;

-wound dehiscence;

-wound seroma;

-wound hematoma;

-uterine infection,endometritis;

-pneumonia;

-UTI;

-pyelonephritis;

-mastitis;

2.-Thromboembolic events:

-DVT/PE (deep venous thrombosis/pulmonary embolism);

-septic pelvic thrombophlebitis;

3.-Hemorrhage/Bleeding:

-Fatigue;

-Orthostatic hypotension with syncope;

-Iron deficiency;

-Need for transfusion;

-Need for hysterectomy;

-Maternal mortality;

4.-Injury to internal organs:

-bladder injury requiring prolonged catheterization;

-ureteral injury;

-bowel injury with or without colostomy;

-bowel resection due to extensive injury;

-excision of fallopian tube and/or ovary for the control of severe hemorrhage;

5.-Risk of anesthesia:

-aspiration of gastric contents;

-high spinal with need for endotracheal intubation;

-inability to ventilate with maternal hypoxia and brain injury;

-maternal mortality due to hypoxia or cardiovascular collapse.

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