COMPARISON OF FETAL OUTCOME IN PLANNED ELECTIVE DELIVERIES AT 38 AND 39 GESTATIONAL WEEKS AT LADY WILLINGDON HOSPITAL, LAHORE

Introduction: Planned elective cesarean delivery is carried out when a patient has no emergency maternal or fetal indication for cesarean section. Such a planned cesarean section can be delayed. Objective: To compare fetal outcome of planned elective cesarean deliveries at 38 and 39 weeks of gestation in a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cohort Study. Place and Duration of Study: Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore. The study was carried out over a period of six months from 1st October, 2012 to 3st March, 2013. Sample Size: A total number of 470 live born neonates were included in the study. 235 neonates were born at 38 weeks while other 235 neonates were born at 39 weeks of gestation. Results: Majority of patients, 121 (51.48%) who underwent cesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation were at 26 – 30 years of age with mean age of 27.69 ± 3.5 years. Mean parity at 38 weeks cesarean delivery group was 2.4 ± 1.35. 19 (8.1%) neonates were admitted to intensive care unit in this 38 weeks gestational age cesarean delivery group. Majority of patients 122 (51.91%) who underwent cesarean section at 39 weeks of gestation were between 26 – 30 years of age with a mean age of 27.36 ± 3.54 years. Mean parity of patients in this group was 2.30 ± 1.280. 6 (2.6%) neonates delivered at 39 weeks of gestation were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit. Conclusion: Neonatal outcome was better at 39 weeks of gestation as compared to 38 weeks of gestation.