Short-term postnatal quality of life in women with previous Misgav Ladach caesarean section compared to Pfannenstiel-Dorffler caesarean section method

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether short-term postnatal health-related quality of life differed among women after different methods of cesarean sections.

Methods: One hundred forty-five women were evaluated with previous CS (85 by Misgav Ladach and 60 by Pfannenstiel-Dörffler). Short-time quality of life was measured using the Croatian version of Short Form Health Survey (SF - 36). Short-term postoperative recovery was assessed using two criteria: febrile morbidity and degree of pain. Incidence of peritoneal adhesions was assigned using Bristow scoring system.

Results: Four weeks after delivery women with previous Misgav Ladach cesarean section significantly scored higher on the bodily pain (72.4 vs. 56.7, p < 0.05), social functioning (71.5 vs. 60.4, p < 0.05), and the vitality (61.7 vs. 50.3, p < 0.05) subscales. These differences disappeared in the second assessment (12-weeks postpartum) except in the bodily pain (74.7 vs. 61.2, p < 0.05) subscale. There was a significant trend toward a higher requirement for postoperative analgesics in the Pfannenstiel-Dörfler group (doses: 5.4 vs. 8.7, p < 0.05; hours: 17.9 vs. 23.3, p < 0.05), and they had a significantly higher rate of febrile morbidity than the Misgav Ladach group (5.7 vs. 9.4%, p < 0.05). Hospitalization time was reduced in the Misgav Ladach group (4.2 vs. 7.3, p <\ 0.05). The incidence of adhesions was significantly lower in patients who had undergone a previous operation using the original Misgav Ladach method (0.47 vs. 0.77, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Misgav Ladach cesarean section method might lead to better short-time quality of life resulting in reducing postoperative complications compared to Pfannenstiel-Dörfler cesarean section method.