Risk factors for relaparotomy after cesarean section due to hemorrhage: a tertiary center experience

Aim: This study aimed to examine the risk factors for relaparotomy after cesarean section (RLACS) due to bleeding.

Material and methods: In this retrospective descriptive case-control study, women who underwent RLACS only for bleeding between 2008 and 2019 at a single tertiary center were examined (the center oversees approximately 25,000 deliveries per year). Maternal characteristics, postoperative findings, and surgical features were compared with a control group that included non-complicated cesarean sections (CS). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for relaparotomy.

Results: Relaparotomy complicated 0.07% (n = 40) of CS during the study period (n = 58,095). When compared with the control group, age, parity, estimated blood loss (EBL), postoperative pulse, blood replacement, and length of hospital stay were statistically higher in patients undergoing relaparotomy, whereas their postoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found to be low. A history of pelvic surgery, the need for intensive care, and complications were more frequent in patients undergoing relaparotomy. When CSs were grouped according to 8-h periods of the day, it emerged that relaparotomies were mostly performed on the patients who underwent CS after working hours. Time interval during the day of the CS [OR: 2.59 (1.10–6.12)] and high postoperative pulse rate [OR: 1.58 (1.28–1.96)] were found to be independent risk indicators for RLACS (AUC: 0.97).

Conclusions: Monitoring vital signs in the postoperative period and increasing the number of physicians and nurses during off-hours in hospitals working with on-call duty procedures as determined by the Ministry of Health will reduce the incidence rate of relaparotomy, maternal morbidity, and mortality due to hemorrhage.