ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes associated with caesarean sections (CS) repeated fourth and fifth times.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 110 patients undergoing CS repeated fourth and fifth times between May 2014 and May 2015. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 had CS repeated four times (n = 90) and group 2 had CS repeated five times (n = 20), and the maternal and fetal outcomes of the groups were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between fourth and fifth CS groups with regard to the maternal age, gravida, body mass index, gestational age at birth, birthweight, and Apgar scores at 5 minutes (p > 0.05). We found no significant differences between the fourth and fifth CS groups in terms of injury to peripheral organs, intra abdominal adhesions, caesarean hysterectomy, uterine dehiscence or rupture, time during operation, length of hospital stay, and need for blood transfusions (p > 0.05). Compared with the elective cases, perioperative complications and length of hospital stay were significantly higher in the urgent group (p = 0.034 and p = 0.005).

Conclusion: Women with CS repeated four or five times have increased risks for perioperative complications. Placenta previa with or without accreta and intra-abdominal adhesions seem to be the major causes of increased morbidity.