COMPARISON OF NEONATAL OUTCOME BETWEEN CAESAREAN SECTION AT 38 AND 39 WEEKS

Zulfiqar Ali Khan; Shumaila Khawaja Khail

doi:10.52229/ajahs.v7i1.1608

Zulfiqar Ali Khan specialist Registrar Gajju khan medical college and teaching hospital.
Shumaila Khawaja Khail Specialist Registrar Lady reading hospital MT

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52229/ajahs.v7i1.1608

Abstract

Background: Elective caesarean - section has become an increasingly alarming issue in the last decade. A number of national and international studies have reported some unfavorable feto maternal outcomes of c section but there has been lack of consensus on comparative outcomes on 38^th and 39^th weeks.

Objective: To compare the neonatal outcomes between caesarean section at 38 and 39 weeks of gestation.

Methodology: This study was done at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Liaquat National Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Using non-probability, consecutive sampling, a total of 78 patients undergoing elective C-sections were chosen. At 38 weeks, patients in Group A had an elective C-section, whereas those in Group B had one at 39 weeks.

Results: The frequency of NICU admission was lower in patients undergoing elective caesarean - section at 39 weeks as compared to those undergoing elective cesarean section at 38 weeks (12.8% vs. 17.9%; p=0.530) however the difference was statistically insignificant.

Conclusion: This study concludes that difference between caesarean section at 39 versus 38 weeks is statistically insignificant as per frequency of NICU admission irrespective of patient’s age and parity. Hence elective caesarean - section – section (ECS) at interval of 38-weeks is confirmed as safe as 39-weeks in terms of need for NICU admission.

Key words: Elective C-Section, 38 Weeks, 39 Weeks, NICU Admission