Routine cervical dilatation at caesarean section and its influence on postoperative pain and complications in obese women: a double blind randomized controlled trial

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021 Jun;34(12):1906-1913. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1651274. Epub 2019 Aug 11.

Abstract

Introduction: Numerous surgical techniques regarding cesarean section performance were assessed. The usefulness of cervical dilatation during cesarean section, are still based on restricted research obtained data.

Purpose: To assess the impact of intraoperative digital dilatation of cervix on postoperative pain.

Material and methods: The current research study is a Prospective parallel group randomized controlled double blind research trial that was conducted in obstetrics and gynecology hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University and Algezeera Hospital, Egypt from the period May 2018 until February 2018.

Results: The visual analog scale scoring level was statistically significantly higher in noncervical dilatation research group at 8th, 30th, 48 hours and 7th day postoperative (p values <.001, .001, .001, and .001, respectively). On the other hand at the 4th day postoperative, there was no statistical significant difference concerning VAS scoring level.

Conclusions: Manual cervical dilatation during cesarean section is an innovative procedure to reduce postoperative pain in obese women. We thought that according to the results of the present study, cervical dilatation leads to proper continuous adequate evacuation and drainage of the intracavitary contents that leads to decrease the uterine subinvolution, retained blood and so, decreased postoperative pain and postoperative blood loss.

Clinicaltrials.gov id: NCT03513237.

Keywords: Cervical; cesarean section; dilatation; pain; postoperative.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Cesarean Section* / adverse effects
  • Dilatation
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Egypt
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Labor Stage, First*
  • Obesity / complications
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03513237