A cross-sectional study of indications for cesarean deliveries in Médecins Sans Frontières facilities across 17 countries.

OBJECTIVE: To review the major indications for cesareans performed by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) personnel from the Operational Center Brussels. METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken of all singleton cesarean deliveries from 2008-2012 for which indications were recorded. Location of project, age of patient, type of anesthesia, and duration of operation were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 14 151 singleton cesarean deliveries were identified from 17 countries. Among the 15 905 indications recorded, the most common was failure to progress or cephalopelvic disproportion (4822 [30.3%]), followed by previous uterine scar (2504 [15.7%]), non-reassuring fetal status (2306 [14.5%]), and fetal malpresentation (1746 [11.0%]). Other indications were placenta or vasa previa (794 [5.0%]), uterine rupture (676 [4.3%]), hypertensive disorders (659 [4.1%]), placental abruption (520 [3.3%]), pre-rupture (450 [2.8%]), and cord prolapse (365 [2.3%]). CONCLUSION: Indications for cesareans in MSF settings differ from those in higher-income countries. Further investigation is needed for adequate emergency obstetric care coverage.

Obstetric complications, neonatal morbidity, and indications for cesarean delivery by maternal age.

OBJECTIVE: To delineate adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes as well as indications for cesarean delivery by maternal age in a contemporaneous large national cohort. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records from 12 centers and 203,517 (30,673 women aged 35 years or older) women with singleton gestations stratified by maternal age. Logistic regression was performed to investigate maternal and neonatal outcomes for each maternal age strata (referent group, age 25.0-29.9 years), adjusting for race, parity, body mass index, insurance, pre-existing medical conditions, substance and tobacco use, and site. Documented indications for cesarean delivery were analyzed. RESULTS: Neonates born to women aged 25.0-29.9 years had the lowest risk of birth weight less than 2,500 g (7.2%; P<.001), admission to neonatal intensive care unit (11.5%; P<.001), and perinatal mortality (0.7%; P<.001). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were higher in women aged 35 years or older (cumulative rate 8.5% compared with 7.8%; 25.0-29.9 years; P<.001). Previous uterine scar was the leading indication for cesarean delivery in women aged 25.0 years or older (36.9%; P<.001). For younger women, failure to progress or cephalopelvic disproportion (37.0% for those younger than age 20.0 years and 31.1% for those aged 20.0-24.9-years; P<.001) and nonreassuring fetal heart tracing (28.7% for those younger than 20.0 years and 21.2% for those aged 20.0-24.9-years; P<.001) predominated as indications. Truly elective cesarean delivery rate was 20.2% for women aged 45.0 years or older (adjusted odds ratio 1.85 [99% confidence interval 1.03-3.32] compared with the referent age group of 25.0-29.9 years). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal and obstetric complications differed by maternal age, as did rates of elective cesarean delivery. Women aged 25.0-29.9 years had the lowest rate of serious neonatal morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : II.

ANAESTHETIC CHALLENGES IN A HIGH RISK PARTURIENT WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS UNDERGOING CAESAREAN SECTION UNDER SPINAL ANAESTHESIA.

The prevalence of myasthenia gravis is low. The management implications of this disease in pregnant women are very challenging for anaesthetists. The objective is to highlight some of the challenges, the management and the lessons learnt during the management of this patient. This is a case report of a 31-year old parturient with diagnosed myasthenia gravis co-existing with hepatitis B infection that presented for caesarean section. Surgery was carried out under a single-shot spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine. Intraoperative myasthenia crisis was managed with neostigmine infusion. She was managed in the Intensive Care Unit for a few days and discharged. Under spinal anaesthesia, she became very breathless and developed wide-spread musculo-skeletal weakness while having a stable haemodynamics intra-operatively. Surgery was carried out successfully. Both mother and child were discharged on the 71th day post-operative after baby was confirmed sero-negative of hepatitis B surface antigen. A better understanding of the pathophysiology and complications that accompany myasthenia gravis is needed to manage these patients under anaesthesia.

[Cesarean birth: justifying indication or justified concern?]. / Operación cesárea: Indicación justificante o preocupación justificada?

BACKGROUND: Caesarean section is the most common surgery performed in all hospitals of second level of care in the health sector and more frequently in private hospitals in Mexico. OBJECTIVE: To determine the behavior that caesarean section in different hospitals in the health sector in the city of Aguascalientes and analyze the indications during the same period. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive and cross in the top four secondary hospitals in the health sector of the state of Aguascalientes, which together account for 81% of obstetric care in the state, from 1 September to 31 October 2008. Were analyzed: indication of cesarean section and their classification, previous pregnancies, marital status, gestational age, weight and minute Apgar newborn and given birth control during the event. RESULTS: were recorded during the study period, 2.964 pregnancies after 29 weeks, of whom 1.195 were resolved by Caesarean section with an overall rate of 40.3%. We found 45 different indications, which undoubtedly reflect the great diversity of views on the institutional medical staff to schedule a cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS: Although each institution has different resources and a population with different characteristics, treatment protocols should be developed by staff of each hospital to have the test as a cornerstone of labor, also request a second opinion before a caesarean section, all try to reduce the frequency of cesarean section.

Anesthesia for cesarian section in pregnant woman with acute intermittent porphyria and hypothyroidism--case report.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare autosomal dominant metabolic disorder' affecting the production of heme, the oxygen-binding prosthetic group of hemoglobin. It is characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme hydroxymethylbilane synthase; without this cytoplasmic enzyme, heme synthesis cannot finish, and the metabolite porphobilinogen accumulates in the cytoplasm. Some additional factors must also be present such as drugs, hormones, dietary changes, infections diseases and surgery that trigger the appearance of symptoms, which include neurological disorders, abdominal pain, constipation, and muscle weakness. We present a perioperative course of a pregnant woman with porphyria in association with hypothyroidism and its anesthetic management.

Indicações de cesariana baseadas em evidências: parte I / Evidence-based cesarean section indications: part I

No Brasil, as taxas de cesárea variam bastante entre as regiões, principalmente quando se compara a assistência realizada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) com a assistência privada. A taxa de cesarianas no setor de saúde suplementar chega próximo de 80%, enquanto no SUS fica próxima de 30%, muito acima do recomendado pela Organização Mundial de Saude (OMS). Realizou-se uma revisão da literatura em busca das melhores evidências disponíveis sobre indicações de cesariana. Analisaram-se as principais indicações de cesárea, como distocia ou falha na progressão do parto, desproporção cefalopélvica, má posição fetal nas variedades de posição posteriores e transversas persistentes, apresentação pélvica, de face e córmica, cesárea anterior, frequência cardíaca fetal não-tranquilizadora, presença de mecônio e centralização fetal. Em nenhuma dessas situações existe indicação absoluta de cesariana, uma vez que mesmo na apresentação córmica o parto normal pode ser tentado, mediante versão cefálica externa (VCE). Nas distocias de progressão, o parto normal pode ser alcançado mediante correção da contratilidade uterina, porém a cesariana encontra-se indicada quando a desproporção cefalopélvica é diagnosticada pelo uso judicioso do partograma. A apresentação pélvica também pode ser corrigida com VCE a termo, mas a via de parto deve ser discutida com a gestante quando a VCE falha ou não é realizada. Embora os riscos relativos neonatais sejam maiores para o parto vaginal, os riscos absolutos são baixos, e a opinião da gestante deve ser considerada

Rates of cesarean in Brazil vary widely among the regions, especially when Single Health System (SUS, acronym in Portuguese) assistance is compared with private clinics. In the supplementary health system the rates of cesarean section are around 80% and in SUS are about 30%, above the rates recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). A literature review was performed searching the best evaluable evidences. The main indications for cesarean section were considered such as dystocia or failure to progress, cephalopelvic disproportion, abnormal fetal positioning in occiput posterior and transverse presentations, breech, face and transverse lie, previous cesarean section, non-reassuring fetal heart rate, meconium and brain-sparing effect. Most of these situations do not represent absolute indications for cesarean section. Even in transverse lie an external cephalic version (ECV) could be tried and a trial of labor can be conducted. When a progress failure occurs, vaginal delivery can be achieved using measures as correction of contractility disorders, although cesarean should be indicated when cephalopelvic disproportion is diagnosed using correctly the partograma. Breech presentation can also be corrected with an ECV at term but the mode of delivery has to be discussed with the patient when ECV fails or it is not performed. Although neonatal relative risks are higher with vaginal delivery, absolute risks are small, and the pregnant women opinion has to be considered