Dexamethasone in Prevention of Respiratory Morbidity in Elective Caesarean Section in Term Fetus

Introduction: Babies born at term by elective caesarean section (CS) and before onset of labor are more likely to develop respiratory complications than babies born vaginally. In developing countries resources are scarce and it is difficult to provide expensive treatments as neonatal care. Aim of the Work: To assess the effect of prophylactic dexamethasone administration before elective cesarean section at term in reducing neonatal respiratory complications. Patients and methods: 600 women were included in the study and were planned to have elective caesarean section. 300 received dexamethasone 12 mg twice, 12 hours apart 48 hours before delivery. 300 patients were the control group. The outcomes were: incidence of admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), incidence of transient tachypnea of newborn (TTN), the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and the need for mechanical ventilation.

Dexamethasone which is a long acting corticosteroid can be used prior to elective cesarean section to decrease neonatal respiratory morbidity by enhacing fetal lung maturity.

Inclusion Criteria: Previous caesarean section Complete 37 week calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period. Exclusion Criteria: Obstetric complications such as pre-eclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage or known fetal anomaly. Hypertensive patients. Chronic disease e.g. diabetes mellitus. Known renal disease. Pre-operative infection.

Sotiriadis A, McGoldrick E, Makrydimas G, Papatheodorou S, Ioannidis JP, Stewart F, Parker R. Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Dec 22;12(12):CD006614. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006614.pub4.