EFFECT OF AMNIOINFUSION ON THE INCIDENCE OF POSTPARTUM ENDOMETRITIS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CESAREAN DELIVERY

We reviewed records from 251 consecutive cesarean deliveries performed over a six-month period to evaluate the effect of amnioinfusion durin g labor on the incidence of postpartum endometritis in patients who de livered by cesarean section. One hundred fifty-four patients were excl uded because they were not in labor, were at less than 35 weeks' gesta tion or received antibiotics during labor. Twenty-three of the remaini ng 97 patients received amnioinfusion during labor and represented the study group. Seventy-four patients did not receive amnioinfusion duri ng labor and were used Its controls. The incidence of postpartum endom etritis in the amnioinfusion group was 13%, while the incidence in the group not receiving amnioinfusion was 38% (relative risk, 0.34; 95% c onfidence interval, 0.13-0.88; P = .026). Amnioinfusion during labor a ppears to significantly decrease the incidence of postpartum endometri tis in patients subsequently undergoing cesarean delivery.