Assessment of Indication and Feto-Maternal Outcome of Caesarean Section among the Preterm Pregnant Patients

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Caesarean section (CS) is an essential intervention in managing preterm pregnancies complicated by maternal or fetal conditions. However, increasing CS rates, especially in preterm deliveries, raise concerns regarding its indications and associated feto-maternal outcomes. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications and feta-maternal outcomes of caesarean sections performed among preterm pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Methods & Materials: This prospective observational study included 95 preterm pregnant women (<37 weeks) undergoing CS over one year. Data on demographics, obstetric history, indications for CS, anesthesia type, and maternal and fetal outcomes were collected and analyzed using SPSS v26. Descriptive statistics summarized the findings. Result: Most participants were young (37.89% aged 15–20 years) and primigravida (65.26%). The leading indications for CS were previous cesarean section (31.58%) and fetal distress (30.53%). Emergency CS accounted for 93.68% of cases, with spinal anesthesia used in 75.79%. Maternal complications included hemorrhage (12.63%) and blood transfusion (9.47%). Neonatal complications were predominantly respiratory distress (29.47%) and hyperbilirubinemia (16.84%), with a fetal mortality rate of 5.26%. Conclusion: Preterm cesarean sections are mostly emergency procedures driven by fetal distress and prior CS. The significant maternal and neonatal morbidity highlights the necessity for improved antenatal care and judicious use of CS in preterm deliveries.