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Sometimes women in labor require a cesarean delivery.  These deliveries can be categorized as nonurgent, urgent, or emergent, based on the circumstances.  Emergent (also known as “stat”) cesarean deliveries are usually performed when concerns over the health of the fetus are so significant that every minute counts.  In these situations, the operation itself it performed very quickly from the first incision until delivery of the baby, which can be as quick as one to two minutes.   One potential concern with this type of surgical technique is whether there is an increased risk to the mother when performing an emergent cesarean delivery.

In a study recently published in the Journal of Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Dr. Nathan Fox and colleagues at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that women undergoing emergent cesarean deliveries (defined as incision to baby delivery in 3 minutes or less) did not have higher rates of complications compared to women undergoing standard cesarean deliveries (incision to delivery of baby in 5 or more minutes).  This included blood loss, the likelihood of transfusion, hysterectomy, Intensive Care Unit admission, and postpartum length of stay.

Should a woman require an emergent cesarean delivery in labor, she should be reassured that the rapid operation done to help her baby is not putting her health at risk.

Read the full article, here: Emergent Primary Cesarean Delivery and Maternal Operative Morbidity 

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Maternal Fetal Medicine blogs are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace certified professional care. Medical conditions vary and change frequently. Please ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding your condition to receive a proper diagnosis or risk analysis. Thank you!