OBJECTIVE:

To compare single- with double-layer closure of the uterus for the risk of uterine rupture in women attempting vaginal birth after one prior caesarean delivery.

DESIGN:

Cohort study.

SETTING:

Sweden.

POPULATION:

From a total of 19 604 nulliparous women delivered by caesarean section in the years 2001-2007, 7683 women attempting vaginal birth in their second delivery were analysed.

METHODS:

Data from population-based registers were linked to hospital-based registers that held data from maternity and delivery records. Logistic regression was used to estimate the risk of uterine rupture after single- or double-layer closure of the uterus. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:

Uterine rupture.

RESULTS:

Uterine rupture during labour occurred in 103 (1.3%) women. There was no increased risk of uterine rupture when single- was compared with double-layer closure of the uterus (OR 1.17; 95% CI 0.78-1.76). Maternal factors associated with uterine rupture were: age ≥35 years and height ≤160 cm. Factors from the first delivery associated with uterine rupture in a subsequent delivery were: infection and giving birth to an infant large for gestational age. Risk factors from the second delivery were induction of labour, use of epidural analgesia, and a birthweight of ≥4500 g.

CONCLUSIONS:

There was no significant difference in the rate of uterine rupture when single-layer closure was compared with double -layer closure of the uterus.

Objective: To investigate the maternal complications associated with cesarean section (CS) in the extremely preterm period according to the gestational week (GW) and to indication of delivery. Study design: This is a retrospective case-referent study with a review of medical records of women who delivered at 22-27 weeks of gestation (n = 647) at two level III units in Sweden. For abdominal delivery, gestational length was stratified into 22-24 (n = 105) and 25-27 (n = 301) weeks. For comparison, data on women who underwent a CS at term were identified in a register-based database. Results: The rate of CS in extremely preterm births was 62.8%. There was no difference in the complication rates, but types of incisions other than the low transverse incision were required more often at 22-24 (18.1%) weeks than at 25-27 GWs (9.6%) (P = 0.02). Major maternal complications occurred in 6.6% compared with 2.1% in the extremely preterm and term CS, respectively (P < 0.01). A maternal indication of extremely preterm CS increased the risk of complications. Conclusions: Almost two-thirds of the births at 22-27 GWs had an abdominal delivery. No increase in short-term morbidity was observed at 22-24 weeks compared to 25-27 weeks. CS performed extremely preterm had more major complications recorded than cesarean at term. The complications are driven by the underlying maternal condition.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between abdominal adhesions at the time of gynaecologic surgery and a history of caesarean delivery, and to investigate obstetric factors contributing to adhesion formation after caesarean section (CS).

DESIGN: Longitudinal population-based register study.

SETTING: Sweden.

POPULATION: Women undergoing benign hysterectomy and/or adnexal surgery in Sweden, 2000-2014, with a previous delivery during 1973-2013 (n = 15 479).

METHODS: Information about abdominal adhesions during gynaecological surgery, prior medical history, pregnancies and deliveries were retrieved from Swedish National Health and Quality registers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Adhesions.

RESULTS: In women with previous CS, adhesions were present in 37%, compared with 10% of women with no previous CS [odds ratio (OR): 5.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.70-5.71]. Adhesions increased with the number of caesarean sections: 32% after one CS; 42% after two CS and 59% after three or more CS (P < 0.001). Regardless of the number of CS, factors at CS such as age ≥35 years (aOR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.05-1.55), body mass index (BMI) ≥30 [adjusted OR (aOR): 1.91, 95% CI: 1.49-2.45] and postpartum infection (aOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.05-2.30) increased the risk of adhesions.

CONCLUSIONS: Presence of adhesions in abdominal gynaecological surgery is associated with women's personal history of caesarean delivery. The number of caesarean sections was the important predictor of adhesions; advanced age, obesity and postpartum infection further increased the incidence.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Repeat caesarean, age, obesity and infection increased the risk of pelvic adhesions after caesarean section.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean section is frequently performed worldwide, and follow-up studies reporting complications at subsequent surgery are warranted.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between a previous abdominal delivery and complications during a subsequent hysterectomy, and to estimate the fraction of complications driven by the presence of adhesions.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a longitudinal population based register study of 25354 women undergoing a benign hysterectomy at 46 hospital units in Sweden 2000-2014.

RESULTS: Adhesions were found in 45 % of the women with a history of cesarean delivery. Organ injury affected 2.2 %. The risk of organ injury (aOR 1.74, 95 % CI 1.41-2.15) and post-operative infection (aOR 1.26, 95 % CI 1.15-1.39) was increased with prior cesarean section, irrespective of whether adhesions were present or not. The direct effect on organ injury by a personal history of cesarean delivery was estimated to 73 %, and only 27 % was mediated by the presence of adhesions. Previous cesarean was a predictor of bladder injury (aOR 1.86, 95 % CI 1.40-2.47) and bowel injury (aOR 1.83, 95 % CI 1.10-3.03) but not ureter injury. A personal history of other abdominal surgeries was associated with bowel injury (aOR 2.27, 95 % CI 1.37-3.78), and the presence of endometriosis increased the risk of ureter injury (aOR 2.15, 95 % CI 1.34-3.44).

CONCLUSIONS: Prior cesarean delivery is associated with an increased risk of complications during a subsequent hysterectomy, but the risk is only partly attributable to the presence of adhesions. Previous cesarean delivery and presence of endometriosis were major predisposing factors of organ injury at the time of the hysterectomy whereas background and perioperative characteristics were of minor importance.