[Sectio ceasarea isthmicolongitudinalis--a forgotten beginning and/or groundless fear?]

A retrospective analysis of the frequency, indications, intra- and postoperative complications in isthmicotansverse (ITS) and isthmicolongitudinal (ILS) cesarean section has been conducted with a view to justifying the wider application of ISL in modern obstetrics. For a five-year period (1996-2000) at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of St. Ann Hospital-Sofia a total of 522 cesarean section were performed of which 348 (66.7%) with isthmicotansverse incision and 174 (33.3%) with isthmicolongitudinal incision. The data show that ILS were ith less blood loss and with less intra- and postoperative complications and it was applied in all types of obstetric indications and urgent cases. Having in mind the good results and the fact that ILS is a technique which could be performed by every obstetrician familiar with ITS, The authors are convinced that isthmicolongitudinal cesarean section can find a wider application in everyday obstetric practice.