Open AccessSevere postpartum morbidity and mode of delivery: a retrospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Farchi Sara,
Polo Arianna,
Franco Francesco,
Di Lallo Domenico,
Guasticchi Gabriella
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349.2010.515298
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , vaginal delivery , odds ratio , retrospective cohort study , population , hysterectomy , cephalic presentation , cohort study , maternal morbidity , gynecology , surgery , genetics , environmental health , pathology , biology
The aim of this population‐based study was to estimate the risk of postpartum maternal complications associated with mode of delivery in a population of low‐risk pregnancies. Data from 324,883 full‐term singleton births between 2001 and 2007 were retrieved from birth and hospital discharge databases of the Lazio Region, Central Italy. Women with breech presentation births and those with chronic/pregnancy‐related diseases in the mother/fetus were excluded. The association between mode of delivery and maternal outcome was estimated for women by odds ratios (ORs), adjusted for potential confounders. Of nulliparous women 78.6% intended vaginal delivery, while for multiparous this was 68.6%. Elective cesarean section was associated with a higher risk of hysterectomy, obstetric shock and anesthetic complications compared with women in the intended vaginal delivery group. This suggests there is a need for a program to reduce unnecessary elective cesarean sections.