Abstract
Objective: To assess the interval between the decision to carry out an emergency caesarean
section and delivery, and to determine whether this interval can be shortened. Study design: A retrospective study was performed in a French maternity hospital over a 6-month
period. All caesarean sections performed during labour were included. These caesarean
sections were divided into two groups according to Lucas’s classification: (1) emergency
and urgent caesarean sections and (2) scheduled caesarean sections. Results: The mean decision-to-delivery interval was 39.5 min in the first group and 55.9 min in the second group. It was mainly influenced by the time taken to get the patient
into theatre. The mean decision-to-operating theatre interval accounted for 45.6 and
53.8% of the mean decision-to delivery-interval, respectively. Conclusion: The recommended interval of 30 min is not routinely achieved. Improving communication within the perinatal team could
decrease the decision-to-operating theatre interval and should be promoted.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 15,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
