Evaluation of Scar Integrity in Patients Having Scar Tenderness at Repeat Caesarean Section in Term Pregnancy at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate scar integrity in patients having scar tenderness at repeat caesarean section in term pregnancy at a tertiary care hospital, Peshawar.

Study Design: A cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from 1st July 2023 to 31st December 2023.

Methods: A total of 142 term pregnant women with previous one caesarean section presenting with caesarean scar tenderness were included. Scar integrity was assessed as either the presence or absence of scar dehiscence. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Quantitative variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and categorical variables as frequency and percentage. Association was determined using chi-square test and a p-value of ≤0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.37 ± 6.14 years, mean gestational age was 38.47 ± 1.17 weeks, and mean BMI was 23.29 ± 2.58 kg/m². 41 patients had scar dehiscence (28.9%) and 101 patients did not have any scar dehiscence (71.1%). No statistically significant association was found between scar dehiscence and educational status (p=0.181), socioeconomic status (p=0.571), residence (p=0.219), age group (p=0.763), gestational age (p=0.119), BMI (p=0.736), or parity (p=0.571).

Conclusion: A significant percentage of term pregnant women with previous 1 caesarean section had scar tenderness with scar dehiscence being observed in over one-third of them. None of the demographic or obstetric variables were found to be significantly related to scar dehiscence, but scar tenderness is a clinical sign that needs attention and prompt obstetric treatment.