Higher order repeat caesarean sections: how safe are five or more?

Objective  To determine the maternal morbidity and mortality associated with multiple repeat caesarean sections.

Design  Retrospective study.

Setting  Security Forces Hospital serving Ministry of Interior and Security Forces personnel in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Population  Three hundred and eight case records undergoing between fifth and ninth caesarean section (mean 7) were studied and compared with a control group of 306 patients undergoing third or fourth caesarean section during the period January 1994–December 2002.

Main outcome measure  Operative and post-operative complications and difficulties.

Results  Five or more caesarean sections were associated with a longer operating time as well as an increased rate of severe adhesions. Blood transfusion rate was similar in the two groups but a drop of pre-operative to post-operative haemoglobin was significantly higher in the study group compared with the controls. There was no significant difference in the Apgar score of the baby, neonatal admission rate, incidence of caesarean hysterectomy, uterine scar rupture, placenta praevia, placenta accreta, bladder injury, incidence of postpartum pyrexia, wound infection and urinary tract infection between the two groups. There was no maternal death in the study group but one mother died in the control group.

Conclusion  The higher order (5–9) repeat caesarean sections carry no specific additional risk for the mother or the baby when compared with the lower order (3 or 4) repeat caesarean sections.