Surgical speed and risk for maternal operative morbidity in emergent repeat cesarean delivery

The purpose of this study was to determine whether surgical speed is associated with maternal outcomes in women who have a history of previous cesarean delivery (CD) and who require emergent delivery.

This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter, prospective observational study of women with a history of previous CD. Women who attempted a vaginal birth after CD and required emergent CD were dichotomized into those with a skin incision-to-fetal delivery time of ≤2 min (I-D ≤2) or >2 min (I-D >2), based on the mode I-D. Rates of composite maternal complications and specific surgical complications were compared.

Seven hundred ninety-three women had an emergency repeat CD: 108 women (13.6%) had I-D ≤2, and 685 women (86.4%) had I-D >2. The composite of maternal morbidity occurred in 36% of women with I-D≤2 and 23% with I-D>2 (P < .01). Women with I-D ≤2 had higher odds of intraoperative transfusion, uterine artery ligation, and broad ligament hematoma. In a multivariable regression model, the only variable that remained associated with maternal outcome was I-D (relative risk, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-2.23). There was no difference in the incidence of neonatal acidemia between groups.

Among women who underwent emergent repeat cesarean delivery, surgical speed was associated with an increased risk for maternal complications.