RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH POST CESAREAN-SECTION FEBRILE MORBIDITY

Abstract

A high incidence of post cesarean section febrile morbidity caused a number of investigators to recommend using prophylactic antibiotics for patients undergoing this procedure. Recent data suggest that such prophylactic antibiotics should be reserved for high-risk patients. Since previous studies have not adequately defined the high-risk patient, 129 patients undergoing cesarean section were analyzed to identify the factors which predispose to postoperative febrile morbidity. Two different statistical programs identified 4 factors (general anesthesia, obesity, hematocrit .ltoreq. 30% and labor prior to delivery) which were significantly associated with post cesarean section febrile morbidity (P < 0.025). Patients with 2 or more of these risk factors were highly likely to experience this postoperative complication (P < 0.001).