Crash emergency cesarean section: decision-to-delivery interval under 30 min and its effect on Apgar and umbilical...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of decision-to-delivery interval of crash emergency cesarean section on Apgar and umbilical artery pH in a level-3 university hospital.

In a retrospective analysis, all women undergoing "crash" emergency cesarean section were evaluated. Emergency cesarean sections were performed in the delivery room. Data relating to indication, Apgar score, arterial cord pH, and time intervals between decision-to-deliver and actual delivery were collected retrospectively.

All 109 crash emergency cesarean sections were performed within a decision-to-delivery time of 30 min. The median (with 10-90th percentile) time was 10 min (5-19). Thirty-three (30.3%) of the emergency cesarean sections had a gestational age below 32 weeks and 60 (55%) below 37 weeks. An abnormal fetal heart rate pattern was noted in most of the cases (91%). Prolapsed cord (21%) and placental abruption (20%) were the most frequent reasons for emergency cesarean section but in one-fourth (25.7%) no morphological reason could be identified. Very short decision-to-delivery times below 20 min were inversely correlated to fetal outcome, i.e., lower umbilical blood pH and Apgar scores (P < 0.01).

The 30-min standard for the decision-to-delivery time interval set by Anglo-American countries may be a feasible guideline at least for level-3 hospitals. The 20-min interval set by the German Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics could not be achieved in all cases. The positive effect of very short intervals on neonatal outcome still needs to be proven.