Skin markers and the prediction of intraabdominal adhesion during second Cesarean delivery

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the present study has been to examine skin scar characteristics and striae gravidarum, considering the reliability of each for predicting adhesions in repeat Caesarean sections. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was done over a period of two years. One hundred pregnant women were invited to participate in the study. Preoperatively, abdominal scar features (according to the scar's appearance) and stria gravidarum were both recorded. Then, at the time of surgery, intraabdominal adhesions were graded according to the modified Nair's classification. Results: Among the skin markers, abdominal scar width (p = 0.001), depressed scar (p = 0.002) and striae colour grading (p = 0.0183) were found to have significant associations with intraabdominal adhesions; yet all were of low validity. Conclusions: Despite growing interest in the use of skin markers in the prediction of intraabdominal adhesions at the time of repeat CS, the present study demonstrates that these markers may not be reliable.