Maternal and fetal mortality and complications associated with cesarean section deliveries in teaching hospitals in Asia

AIM: To compare the mortality, morbidity of emergency and elective cesarean section with vaginal delivery among Asian teaching hospitals. METHODS: Hospital based prospective study at 12 centers of 9 countries. RESULTS: 12 591 vaginal deliveries, 3062 elective and 4328 emergency cesarean section were followed up to 5 days postpartum. Maternal deaths (95% CI) per 1000 births among vaginal deliveries being 0.47 (0.17, 1.03) was not significantly different from 0.31 (0.01, 1.73) of elective cesarean section and both rates were significantly lower than 2.87 (1.53, 4.91) per 1000 births of emergency section. The vaginal delivery group had significantly lower incidences of all major complication except significantly higher chance of secondary operations and non-significantly different risk for endometritis. Corresponding neonatal mortality per…