Cesarean delivery technique: Evidence or tradition? a review of the evidence-based cesarean delivery

Abstract

Cesarean delivery is the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States, yet the techniques used during this procedure often vary significantly among providers. The purpose of this review was to evaluate and outline current evidence behind the cesarean delivery technique. A search of the PubMed database was conducted using the terms cesarean section and cesarean delivery and the technique of interest, for example, cesarean section prophylactic antibiotics. Few aspects of the cesarean delivery were found to have high-quality consistent evidence to support use of a particular technique. Because many aspects of the procedure are based on limited or no data, more studies on specific cesarean delivery techniques are clearly needed. Providers should be aware of which components of the cesarean delivery are evidence-based versus not when performing this procedure.Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family PhysiciansLearning Objectives: At the completion of this article, the reader should be able to assess evidenced-based perioperative and intraoperative techniques, evaluate which portions of the cesarean delivery are based on little to no evidence and data, and manage obese patients at the time of cesarean delivery. Copyright © 2012 by Lippincott Williams &Wilkins.