Maternal and Perinatal Mortality Associated with Cesarean Section in Alberta (1955-1959)

A province-wide study of perinatal mortality was initiated in Alberta (population 1,283,000) in 1955. The period 1955-1959 covered 182,028 total births and 4219 perinatal deaths of which 260 were from 3813 Cesarean sections.The perinatal mortality rate in Cesarean-section births in rural hospitals (101.4 per thousand Cesarean births) was compared with that for urban hospitals (55.7 per thousand).Examination of the indications for primary Cesarean section in which a perinatal death occurred showed that hemorrhage accounted for 54 out of 85 of these deaths in rural hospitals, and 49 out of 110 similar urban deaths. Of 33 perinatal deaths associated with elective repeat sections, 17 were of premature babies.Eleven of the 85 maternal deaths during 1955-1959 were associated with Cesarean section, a maternal mortality rate of 28.8 per 10,000 Cesarean section births. Preventable factors were present in 8 of the 11 cases. Hemorrhage was the primary cause of death.