Why Are C-Section Incisions Imbricated?
While many women are given the basics in their childbirth preparation classes, there are terms that are associated with cesarean sections that are unfamiliar to the general public. There are two standard ways the incision is closed for this procedure.
Cesarean (C-Section)
A cesarean surgery is used to deliver a fetus via an incision through the abdominal wall. It is used in cases of distress or other complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of cesarean delivery in the United States rose 2 percent in 2007, with 31.8 percent of all births.
Imbricated
Imbrication refers to building a surface (of tissue) with overlapping. This is one of the methods of closing the surgical wound. It is also sometimes referred to as double-layer closure.
Benefits
Starting in the early 1990s, the imbricated type of closure fell out of favor to the single layer closure technique due to its shorter operative time, which means the woman can be moved to recovery faster.
Disadvantages
According to a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (Vol 189, Issue 4), single-layer uterine closure is associated with decreased infectious morbidity in the index surgery, but not uterine rupture or other adverse outcomes in the subsequent pregnancies.
Conclusion
Currently the evidence from various studies is mixed on whether single-layer closure is completely on par with imbricated (double-layer closure). If you may be facing a cesarean delivery, please talk to your doctor about your options, as she may have access to the most up-to-date research.
Tags: associated with, cesarean delivery, double-layer closure, Incisions Imbricated