[Characteristics of cesarean sections at the University Hospital Mostar]

We performed a retrospective, descriptive study in order to analyze characteristics of the cesarean sections at the University Hospital Mostar in year 2002. We analyzed cesarean sections incidence, general characteristics of the parturients and neonates, major indications for the cesarean section and postoperative course. During year 2002, there were 247 cesarean sections out of total of the 1510 deliveries. Total of 255 neonates were born by this operative procedure and 16 of them were twins. We used the operational, labour, neonate and parturients records in order to collect data. The incidence of cesarean sections in University Hospital Mostar in year 2002 was 16.4%. There were 5.3% elective procedures. Most of the parturients were in age group 25-35. More than half of the parturients gave birth for the first time. The major diagnoses for cesarean section were previous cesarean section, fetal distress, breech presentation, cephalo-pelvine dysproportion and dystocia. Most of the pregnancies terminated by cesarean section (87.3%) were in term. The majority of neonates had weight > or = 2500 g (93.7%) and first minute Apgar score > or = 7 (96.4%). Parturients stayed for a week in the hospital and were given antibiotic prophylaxis postoperatively. Each second parturient suffered from pyrexia of unknown origin postoperatively. Comparing to literature data, we found high incidence of cesarean sections considering total number of deliveries and pregnancy pathology. We think that proper measures of decreasing this incidence should take place in University Hospital Mostar.