Effect of Normal Saline on Cleaning Uterine Cavity During Cesarean Delivery

Cesarean delivery is the most common and costly gynaecologic surgery, with an increase in rate all over the world.

The present study aimed to estimate the effect of uterine cavity cleansing with normal saline solution during cesarean delivery on the rate of infection, fever, bleeding and postoperative gastrointestinal complications.

This study was a clinical trial carried out on 90 pregnant women who underwent elective cesarean delivery. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups of 45 individuals, including rinsing in 500ml of normal saline solution during cesarean delivery (intervention group) and non-rinsed (control group). Postoperative complications include bleeding, fever, wound infection were examined. The data related to postoperative gastrointestinal complications and endometritis at the second day and one and six weeks after surgery were collected and data were analysed through SPSS 17.

There was no significant difference between two groups regarding febrile morbidity two days after the surgery. The rate of one-week postoperative febrile morbidity was higher in the control group but not statistically significant. The difference in the incidence of fever, wound infection and endometritis on the second day and on the first week was not statistically significant but the incidence of endometritis on the sixth week after surgery was significant in the intervention group than control group and was less in the intervention group, the wound infection at sixth week after surgery was fewer in the intervention group but not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of gastrointestinal complications.

Uterine cavity cleansing with normal saline solution during cesarean delivery may decrease postoperative complication, although the reduction is not statistically significant.