Randomized study of non-closure of peritoneum in lower segment cesarean section.

BACKGROUND: The advantages of non-closure of the visceral and parietal peritoneum at lower segment cesarean section seems to be evident but in the reports published so far, the number of patients studied has been relatively small and the follow-up periods short. It is obviously of value to reconfirm such important observation in several institutions and therefore, in 1991, we decided to study non-closure of the peritoneum in lower segment cesarean section in a large series of patients with long-term follow-up of at least one year.

METHODS: A prospective randomized study of 361 patients undergoing lower segment cesarean section in a University Affiliated Hospital, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. The operative technique was randomized to include either non-closure of both visceral and parietal peritoneum (study group, n = 179) or closure of both layers (control group, n = 182). Patients were followed up according to a study protocol. The nursing staff and the obstetricians responsible for data collection were unaware as to which of the two groups the patients belonged to. Student-t test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis of the results, where appropriate, with a p < 0.05 considered probability level to reflect significant differences.

RESULTS: Postoperative febrile morbidity and wound infection were significantly lower in the study group as compared to the control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05 respectively). The incidence of wound dehiscence, urinary tract infection and the time to opening of the bowels postoperatively were similar in the two groups. In the non-closure group, the average operating time was significantly shorter by 7.9 minutes (p < 0.01) and the hospital stay was one day less (p < 0.01). There were no patients with late postoperative complications or readmissions during 2-5 years of follow-up that could be attributed to complications associated with lower segment cesarean section.

CONCLUSION: Non-closure of the visceral and parietal peritoneum at lower segment cesarean section is associated with fewer postoperative complications, is more cost effective and is simpler than the traditional operative technique of closing both peritoneal layers.