Abstract

Certain aspects of a cesarean delivery, such as skin incision to delivery time and uterine incision to delivery time, have been studied in term deliveries and have not yet yielded relationships with negative neonatal outcomes. However preterm cesarean deliveries have not been studied in the same capacity. Through a retrospective chart review of 706 preterm cesarean deliveries, this study aims to assess the relationship between skin incision to delivery, uterine incision to delivery and neonatal hypoxia. Overall, skin incision to delivery time had no significant statistical relation to hypoxic outcomes in preterm neonates. While uterine incision to delivery time did have an significant association with hypoxic outcomes and factors that make surgical procedures more difficult (increased BMI, maternal age), this relationship did not exist when controlling for gestational age. With further studies, these findings could inform and influence the strategies obstetricians utilize during preterm cesarean deliveries.

Keywords:Neonate; Hypoxia; Preterm; Incision time