Cesarean deliveries now account for approximately one-third of all deliveries and represent the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States. Thus, there is a significant need to review the future maternal complications following cesarean deliveries (and multiple prior cesarean deliveries), the impact on the fetus, as well as long-term maternal outcomes. These issues are presented in the articles by Dr Lyell on perioperative complications of cesarean delivery and Drs Clark and Silver on long-term maternal outcomes.An underappreciated concern following cesarean delivery is development of postoperative adhesions. Several reports have identified the incidence of adhesions following cesarean delivery as 40-65%, with increasing occurrence following repeat cesarean deliveries. Interestingly, while the incidence is higher than many obstetricians may have anticipated, it is nonetheless, less than rates identified after another uterine procedure, myomectomy, in which rates are approximately 85% of patients.
展开▼
