Caesarean section

A caesarean section (cesarean section AE), or C-section, is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mother's abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more babies. It is usually performed when a vaginal delivery would lead to medical complications.

History

Caesarean sections were known in ancient Rome, and it was said that this is the method by which the Roman dictator Julius Caesar was delivered (see etymology, above). In 1316 the future Robert II of Scotland was delivered by caesarean section - his mother, Marjorie Bruce, died.

Related Topics:
Roman - Dictator - Julius Caesar - Robert II of Scotland - Marjorie Bruce

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The first recorded incidence of a woman surviving a caesarean section was in Germany in 1500: Jacob Nufer, a pig gelder, is supposed to have performed the operation on his wife after a prolonged labor. For most of the time, the procedure had a high mortality. In Great Britain and Ireland the mortality in 1865 was 85%. Key steps in reducing mortality were:

Related Topics:
1500 - Mortality - 1865

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• Adherence to principles of asepsis
• The introduction of uterine suturing by Max Sänger in 1882
• Extraperitoneal CS and then moving to low transverse incision ( Krönig, 1912)
• Anesthesia advances.
• Blood transfusion.
• Antibiotics.

European travelers in the Great Lakes region of Africa during the nineteenth century observed caeserean sections being performed on a regular basis. The expectant mother was normally anesthetized with alcohol and herbal mixtures were used to encourage healing. From the well-developed nature of the procedures employed, European observers concluded that they had been employed for some time.

Related Topics:
Great Lakes region - Africa

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On March 5, 2000, Ines Ramirez performed a caesarean section on herself and survived, as did her son, Orlando Ruiz Ramirez. She is believed to be the only woman to have performed a successful caesarean section on herself.

Related Topics:
March 5 - 2000 - Ines Ramirez

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