Elective Cesarean Section as a Risk Factor Associated with Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Foundations: Elective Cesarean section is a surgical procedure that has increased worldwide in recent years. Respiratory morbidities are the most frequent complications in neonates born in this way, especially due to the absence of labor.

Objective: To determine, from a systematic literature review, elective cesarean section as a risk factor for respiratory distress morbidity and mortality in newborns.

Methods: Fourteen articles were included on this topic that met certain inclusion criteria. The search was carried out in different journals such as Scielo, Cochrane, Medwave, Redalyc, PubMed, among others, published in the last 5 years, in English and Spanish language. Mendeley software was used to organize the information.

Results: Developing countries have rates of the elective cesarean section above 40%, especially in the private sector. Neonatal respiratory morbidity-mortality increases by elective cesarean section being up to 3 times higher compared to vaginal delivery. Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn was the most frequent entity of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Conclusions: Elective cesarean section is a problem in underdeveloped countries because it brings with it important fetal complications such as Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn, a pathology that can be prevented: firstly by properly educating the mother, adopting measures such as premature labor in patients with a history of previous cesarean section, the use of antenatal steroids and the administration of oxytocin.