What is Perimortem Cesarean?

Perimortem Cesarean should be initiated within four minutes of cardiac arrest in a pregnant woman above 24 weeks of pregnancy for the following reasons:

• Relieving pressure on the mother’s heart caused by the uterus
• To increase the mother’s cardiac output
• Decrease oxygen demand
• Improve lung functioning because the diaphragm is lowered after the procedure
• Improve fetal and mother’s survival rate
• Improve ventilation
• Redirect blood flow from the placenta

It is the final resort to save a mother’s and child’s life and should be performed by experienced hands.

Perimortem Cesarean section is contraindicated in pregnant women under the following conditions:

• Pregnancy term of fewer than 24 weeks
• Return of immediate blood flow after a revival procedure (resuscitation)

To perform a perimortem Cesarean, a physician follows these steps.

1. The woman is made to lie down on the left side
2. Incisions are made on the abdomen and the uterus
3. The fetus is removed from the uterus
4. After delivery, suction is carried out through the nose and then through the mouth
5. The cord is clamped and cut
6. The resuscitation procedure is carried out on the mother and the child

According to various studies, a perimortem Cesarean section improves the survival rates of the mother and baby.

To summarize, the survival rate among mothers and neonates has seen improvement described by various studies. However, this success rate can be guaranteed only when an experienced and skilled surgeon performs the procedure.

Perimortem Cesarean section (PMCS) is rarely performed because pregnancy-related death rates have been declining rapidly.

Some of the complications associated with PMCS include:

• Bladder injury
• Injury to the fetus
• Excessive maternal bleeding