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Cesarean birth - What's in a name?
L Ni1, A Elsaharty1, I McConachie1
1Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Western University and London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Rd E, London, ON N6A 5W9, Canada.
International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
|November 19, 2017
Summary
The terminology for cesarean birth has shifted from cesarean section (CS) to cesarean delivery (CD), particularly since the mid-2000s. Cesarean delivery is recommended for consistency with other birth terminologies and to avoid tautology.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Medical Terminology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Cesarean birth is referred to as cesarean section (CS) or cesarean delivery (CD).
- The International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia (IJOA) is a key journal in obstetric anesthesia.
- Analysis of terminology evolution over 25 years of IJOA publications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolution of surgical birth terminology (CS vs. CD) in the IJOA.
- To analyze trends in the usage of cesarean section and cesarean delivery terminology.
- To assess geographical differences in terminology preference.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1583 articles published in IJOA.
- Categorization of articles into editorials, papers, reviews, debates, and case reports.
- Search for terms CS, CD, or both, and analysis of geographical origin (North America, Europe, Rest of World).
Main Results:
- A shift in terminology from CS to CD observed, primarily from the mid-2000s.
- Cesarean delivery (CD) was predominantly used in North American publications.
- Cesarean section (CS) was predominantly favored in European publications.
Conclusions:
- The term CS may be tautological due to the Latin roots of 'cesarean' and 'section' both meaning cutting.
- Cesarean delivery (CD) is suggested as preferred terminology for consistency with terms like 'vaginal delivery'.
- A consistent approach to terminology would enhance clarity in obstetric practice.
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