Lower Uterine Segment Following a Cesarean Section With Barbed Suture

Lower Uterine Segment at the Next Pregnancy Following a Cesarean Section With Barbed Suture: an Observational Prospective Comparative Study

This aim of this study is to investigate the LUS in the pregnancy following a previous cesarean section with the use of barbed or conventional smooth suture.

To better assess the risk of uterine rupture, some authors have proposed sonographic measurement of lower uterine segment (LUS) thickness near term, assuming that there is an inverse correlation between LUS thickness and the risk of uterine scar defect. Recently, barbed suture has been employed for closing uterine wall after cesarean section, demonstrating the reduction of closure time of the uterine incision and estimated blood loss. Until now, the impact of barbed suture in future pregnancies has not been investigated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• pregnant women
• being undergone a previous elective cesarean section at term of pregnancy (more than 37 weeks of gestation), in which barbed or conventional smooth suture was used for closing anterior uterine wall

Exclusion Criteria:

• having done more than one cesarean section
• having done a previous urgent cesarean section
• having done previous uterine surgical procedures with exception than one cesarean section