Post Obstetrical Surgery Complications

Many women are admitted to the hospital each year to have obstetric surgery. This is the area of medicine that deals with the care of females during pregnancy and childbirth. It also extends into the time immediately following the birth, and to the surgery performed during childbirth, mainly Cesarean sections. Although there are risks to any type of surgery, the seriousness of post-obstetrical surgery complications can range from mild to life-threatening. Because of the close proximity of internal body parts, there is a risk of perforation. Your physician should discuss with you any risks and complications that may arise after surgery.

Uterine Rupture

Scars on the uterus from obstetric surgery carry the risk of separating during pregnancy and labor. Sometimes, the scar separates enough that it causes the uterus to rupture. The scar separation typically does not cause a problem, but a ruptured uterus can be very serious for an unborn baby. The risk of rupture depends on the location of the scar. If the scar is vertical and located on the upper part of the uterus, there is a higher risk of rupture. If you have this type of scar, your doctor will recommend having C-sections with any children in the future.

Wound Dihiscense

Wound dehiscence is a term referring to the separation of the wound or an abnormal opening of it. Symptoms include redness and swelling at the wound site, failure of staples or stitches, separation of wound edges, wound drainage or tissue protruding from it. These are all possible complications from obstetric surgery.

Infection

Infection after C-section is uncommon, with only about 1 to 2 cases per 20 surgeries. Most infections begin in the uterus, urinary tract, in the abdomen around the uterus or in the incision. Depending on the location of the infection, treatment will vary. Internal infections are more serious and usually require hospitalization and antibiotic IVs. Additional surgery is rarely needed, but if not properly treated, infection can be life-threatening.

Nerve Injury

As with any surgery, it is impossible to perform this procedure without cutting into nerves. Nerve injury following a C-section is rare, and in most cases, the nerves heal completely. When they do not, you may have long-term or short-term damage. Symptoms can include loss of feeling in the skin, muscle pain, bone pain, pain in the skin and difficulty controlling muscles. These symptoms should go away after a period of time, but if no improvement is noticed, additional surgery may be needed.

Bladder Injury

Although rare, injuries to the ureters (tubes that carry urine from the bladder) and bladder injury are possible. This may be by means of blockage, perforation or burn injuries. These injuries can be caused by instruments used to perform the C-section. Typically, they are repaired during surgery. It is possible that a bladder catheter may be needed for a week to 10 days after surgery. Your doctor may also give you antibiotics. If an injury does not show up until after the C-section, additional surgery may be necessary to repair the damage.

References

• Dr. Bodo Schneider, Emergency Medicine; Memorial Medical Center; Springfield, Illinois
• Infection After Cesarean Section