Does the number of previous caesarean deliveries affect maternal outcome and complication rates?

We evaluated maternal complications in relation to number of previous caesarean sections in Princess Badea Teaching Hospital, Irbid, Jordan. Analysis of the medical records of 1739 patients delivered by caesarean section was conducted. It revealed a 14-fold increase in the risk of caesarean hysterectomy in patients with placenta praevia and previous caesarean section compared to patients with placenta praevia and no previous caesarean section. The risk of caesarean hysterectomy increased with increasing number of previous caesarean sections. Those with 3 or more previous caesarean sections were at significantly higher risk of blood transfusion. Post-operative pyrexia was commoner in women with 3 or more previous caesarean sections compared to those undergoing their first one

Variation in repeat caesarean section complication rates among 3 hospitals in northern Jordan

We investigated the complication rates of repeat caesarean deliveries in 3 hospitals [national health, military, university] in Irbid by examining the obstetric records of 989 women from 1 December 1999 to 30 March 2004. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of previous caesarean sections and hospital. In total, 579 [58.5%] patients underwent elective caesarean section. There were statistically significant differences between hospitals for "failure to progress in labour" and "other" indications for caesarean section. After adjusting for the number of caesarean sections, regression analysis revealed that women from the military and university hospitals were more likely to have placenta praevia. There were no statistically significant differences between hospitals as regards post- operative complications