[Cesarean section: science or anxiety? Eleven years of institutional experience]

The increasing rise of cesarean section rate invites to analyze its indications. The present study was done from 1985 to 1995, which means 11 years of study with 38,407 cases. Frequency and clinical indications were analyzed. As to births, frequency was 40.6%. Main causes were: Iterative section 38.2%; cephalopelvic disproportion 28.1%; pelvic presentation, 23.4%; hypertensive disease in pregnancy 16.3%; and acute fetal suffering, 10.9%. The careful observation of indications in every institution, may produce better reasons for reducing such high indexes.