Mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background The high prevalence of caesarean section (CS) is a global concern. Relaparotomy is needed when conservative managements are not effective in CS complications. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the mortality rate and risk factors of relaparotomy after CS....

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Main Authors: Dan Shan, Jinbiao Han, Xi Tan, Pingjing Yu, Yitong Cai, Ke Yi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07365-x
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author Dan Shan
Jinbiao Han
Xi Tan
Pingjing Yu
Yitong Cai
Ke Yi
author_facet Dan Shan
Jinbiao Han
Xi Tan
Pingjing Yu
Yitong Cai
Ke Yi
author_sort Dan Shan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The high prevalence of caesarean section (CS) is a global concern. Relaparotomy is needed when conservative managements are not effective in CS complications. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the mortality rate and risk factors of relaparotomy after CS. Methods Based on a pre-registered protocol, we searched 11 databases. The MOOSE guideline was followed, and the reporting was in accordance with the PRISMA statement. A Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation was used to transform the raw data, and a random-effects meta-analytic model was applied. The quality of the evidence was evaluated by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results The qualities of the pooled results were assessed to be “very low” based on the inclusion of observational studies. A total of 40 studies were retrieved. The mortality rate in patients after relaparotomy was 7.24% (95%CI 4.10-11.03%). Significant gap existed between high-resources and low-resources countries. In developed areas this rate was 0.56% and in places of low resources this rate was 16.90%. Higher CS rate correlated with higher mortality. Over 70% of the relaparotomies followed emergent CS. Risk factors associated with relaparotomy included higher maternal age, CS performed in the second stage of labor, twin pregnancy, preterm birth (OR 2.72, 95%CI 1.87–3.95) and preeclampsia (OR 3.24, 95%CI 1.47–7.14). Conclusion Our findings demonstrated the high mortality rate in patients who had relaparotomy after CS. Interpretation of the results should be with caution due to GRADE evidence level. During a time when there is an imbalance in medical resources in different countries, interventions to reduce CS rate, good prenatal care and intensified post-operative management are important. Trial registration PROSPEROCRD42021265325.
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spelling doaj-art-628c7208b4734ea88a2567efe96dbc2d2025-08-20T03:01:41ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-03-0125111210.1186/s12884-025-07365-xMortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysisDan Shan0Jinbiao Han1Xi Tan2Pingjing Yu3Yitong Cai4Ke Yi5Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversitySichuan University LibraryWest China Medical school of Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Background The high prevalence of caesarean section (CS) is a global concern. Relaparotomy is needed when conservative managements are not effective in CS complications. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the mortality rate and risk factors of relaparotomy after CS. Methods Based on a pre-registered protocol, we searched 11 databases. The MOOSE guideline was followed, and the reporting was in accordance with the PRISMA statement. A Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation was used to transform the raw data, and a random-effects meta-analytic model was applied. The quality of the evidence was evaluated by Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results The qualities of the pooled results were assessed to be “very low” based on the inclusion of observational studies. A total of 40 studies were retrieved. The mortality rate in patients after relaparotomy was 7.24% (95%CI 4.10-11.03%). Significant gap existed between high-resources and low-resources countries. In developed areas this rate was 0.56% and in places of low resources this rate was 16.90%. Higher CS rate correlated with higher mortality. Over 70% of the relaparotomies followed emergent CS. Risk factors associated with relaparotomy included higher maternal age, CS performed in the second stage of labor, twin pregnancy, preterm birth (OR 2.72, 95%CI 1.87–3.95) and preeclampsia (OR 3.24, 95%CI 1.47–7.14). Conclusion Our findings demonstrated the high mortality rate in patients who had relaparotomy after CS. Interpretation of the results should be with caution due to GRADE evidence level. During a time when there is an imbalance in medical resources in different countries, interventions to reduce CS rate, good prenatal care and intensified post-operative management are important. Trial registration PROSPEROCRD42021265325.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07365-xCaesarean sectionRelaparotomyMortalityRisk factorsMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Dan Shan
Jinbiao Han
Xi Tan
Pingjing Yu
Yitong Cai
Ke Yi
Mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Caesarean section
Relaparotomy
Mortality
Risk factors
Meta-analysis
title Mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort mortality rate and risk factors for relaparotomy after caesarean section a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Caesarean section
Relaparotomy
Mortality
Risk factors
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07365-x
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