[Cesarean section and perinatal mortality]

Based on a multicentric prospective study 727 cases of caesarean section (C.S.) in 13 departments of gynecology and obstetrics in 1987 will be examined by means of computer aided analysis. The rate of C.S. was between 6.5% and 13.4% in the obstetrical centres, and between 2.6% and 6.7% in the general district hospitals. There isn't a defined correlation between the rate of C.S. and perinatal mortality in one department. The increased C.S. rate of the centres is based on more neonatological indications like prematurity, perinatal infection risk and traumatic hazard. Perinatal mortality and C.S. rate are only comparable under consideration with all cases of deliveries especially with frequency of obstetrical high risk cases in a department. The high C.S. rate of first obstetrical centre in comparison with the second one is connected with reducing of perinatal mortality of newborn delivered by C.S. to about the half. Therefore we suggest the caesarean section-index of perinetal mortality. It is the relation between perinatal mortality of newborn delivered by C.S. and the total perinatal mortality.