THE END-RESULTS OF ABDOMINAL CESAREAN SECTION

The gradual extension of the indications for abdominal cesarean section and the growing popularity of this method of operative delivery justify an occasional review of our cases and an inquiry into the ultimate results. Many studies along these lines have been published, but the question as to the proper care at a subsequent labor of the patient who has had a cesarean section is still open for discussion. It is generally conceded that the immediate results vary according to the previoushandling of the case, and that the chief risk is that of infection following vaginal examinations and manipulations. The mortality and morbidity percentages under ideal conditions should be very low, but these ideal conditions are not encountered in every case. Thus, in 117 abdominal cesarean sections at the Charity Hospital of New Orleans (excluding the Porro cases), there were twelve deaths from peritonitis and two from sepsis; all of these