Physical sequelae of caesarean section.

The complications and recovery from caesarean section are dominated by the medical condition of the woman pre-operatively. Evidence regarding risks directly attributable to the caesarean section is scanty, and often derived from obstetric practice that differs from the current day. Mortality associated with the procedure is anything up to five times that for vaginal delivery, with emergency caesarean section associated with almost twice the risk of elective procedures. Data regarding placenta praevia and placenta praevia-accreta come from population series where antibiotics were not routinely used for caesarean section, but there is no doubt that previous caesarean section increases the risk of both. Antibiotic and thromboprophylaxis at the time of caesarean section decrease morbidity in the index pregnancy, but can also reasonably be expected to reduce future pregnancy complications. Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.