Vaginal Cleansing Prior to Cesarean Section and Post-Operative Infectious Morbidity

Objective: To compare the frequency of post-operative infectious morbidity in patients undergoing emergency cesarean section with and without pre-operative vaginal cleansing.Methodology: A Randomized controlled trial in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, PIMS, Islamabad from 1st September 2014 to 31st January 2015 was conducted including 434 patients. Group B women received only abdominal and vulval scrubbing while Group A received additional vaginal cleansing with pyodine. Patients were followed up for development of infectious morbidity up to three weeks. Results: Mean age of 28.4 ± 4.6 years in group A and 27.6 ± 5.9 years in group B. Fever was seen in 9 (4.1%) women in group A and 16 (7.4%) in group B (p=0.149). Endometritis was noted in 3 (1.4%) women in group A and 19 (8.8%) in group B (p=0.000). Wound Infection occurred in 3 (1.4%) women in group A and 8 (3.7%) in group B (p=0.126).Conclusion: Use of antiseptic for vaginal cleaning before cesarean section decreased postpartum infectious morbidity due to endometritis.