HIGH-RISK OBSTETRIC PATIENTS - MATERNAL MORBIDITY AFTER CESAREANS

OBJECTIVE: To assess maternal morbidity associated with cesarean deliv ery among high-risk obstetric patients in a private practice setting. STUDY DESIGN: Maternal outcome parameters were prospectively studied i n 1,000 consecutively delivered patients over a one-year period. RESUL TS: Three hundred forty-one patients (34%) delivered by cesarean; 194 of the procedures were performed without labor. The incidence of febri le morbidity and wound infection in patients undergoing cesarean deliv ery without labor, 0.5%, was no greater than that of patients who deli vered vaginally (P=1.0). There was a higher incidence of transfusion i n patients delivered by cesarean without labor, but these patients wer e move likely to have preoperative anemia (P=.036). Patients un dergoi ng cesarean with labor or ruptured membranes had an increased incidenc e of both febrile morbidity (P=.023) and wound seroma (P=.008). CONCLU SION: Maternal morbidity following cesarean delivery in high-risk obst etric patients in a private practice setting is low.