Amnion protective cesarean section--method for gentle delivery of preterm and/or VLBW neonates.

UNLABELLED: More than 50 percent of preterm neonates below 28 gestational weeks in our institution are delivered by cesarean section (CS).

AIM: To present advantages of less used method of delivery of premature and/or very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates by Amnion Protective Cesarean Section (APCS) when indicated and to review our experience with the method. It can be used in all deliveries by CS with unruptured amniotic membranes, at all gestational ages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Including criteria were singleton pregnancies, gestation of 26 to 35 weeks and birth body weight between 700 to 1500 g. According to the criteria, during the studied period 10 neonates were delivered by APCS. We compared the outcomes of APCS neonates with ones delivered by coventional CS who matched them in mentioned criteria.

RESULTS: Compared to CS cases, APCS neonates had statistically significant better first minute AS. Stay in NICU was shorter for APCS neonates but not statistically significant. From our experience APCS neonates had clinically better appearance (less bruises and hematomas).

CONCLUSION: APCS is promising method for delivery of preterm and/or VLBW neonates when indicated, although prospective studies are needed in order to prove its effectiveness compared to conventional CS.