Midline versus Pfannenstiel incision scars in repeat caesarean sections
Date
2009-09-22T11:08:20Z
Authors
Haacke, Karl Olaf
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Abstract
It is a commonly held belief that a repeat caesarean section through a low vertical scar
provides easier access and fewer complications than an operation through a previous
Pfannenstiel incision. To test this hypothesis the records of one hundred and twenty one
repeat caesarean sections were retrospectively reviewed by the author. These records were
reviewed at the two large teaching hospitals of the University of the Witwatersrand, Chris
Hani Baragwanath and Johannesburg General Hospital.
Statistically significant findings were that older women were more likely to have had an
initial midline incision. Incision to delivery times were faster via the midline (4 min) than
the Pfannenstiel incision (5.5 min). Total operating times did not differ significantly. The
findings do show that repeat midline incisions are faster (1.5 min) to deliver, but do not
address the patient’s need for a cosmetically pleasing wound scar.
Description
Keywords
Midline incision, Pfannenstiel incision, caesarean section, scars