[Short-term perioperative prophylaxis with cefotaxim in obstetric and gynecological surgery]

Abstract

The effectiveness of short-term peri-operative prophylaxis with cefotaxim (Claforan) in gynaecological and obstetric operations was prospectively tested in 764 women (randomized by day of week). The incidence of postoperative infectious complications after vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy was significantly lower in the cefotaxim group than the control group. The rate was also clearly lower after laparotomy without hysterectomy and after abdominal section, but the differences were not statistically significant. In the patients with risk factors, i.e. obesity, cardiopulmonary disease or after laparotomy, which in the control group were correlated with a significantly higher rate of infectious complications, cefotaxim prophylaxis significantly reduced the rate of complications too. There were no side-effects from cefotaxim.