Supplemental oxygen for the prevention of postcesarean infectious morbidity: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether supplemental oxygen during and for 2 hours after cesarean delivery reduces the incidence of postcesarean infectious morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial from 2008-2010. Women who underwent cesarean delivery were randomly assigned to receive either 2 L of oxygen by nasal cannula during cesarean delivery only (standard care) or 10 L of oxygen by nonrebreather mask (intervention group) during and for 2 hours after cesarean delivery. Women who underwent scheduled or intrapartum cesarean delivery were eligible and were observed for 1 month after the procedure. The primary composite outcome was maternal infectious morbidity, which included endometritis and wound infection. RESULTS: Five hundred eighty-five women were included in the final analysis. Infectious morbidity occurred in 8.8% of patients in the standard care group and in 12.2% of patients in the supplemental oxygen group. There was no significant difference in the rate of infectious morbidity between the standard care and intervention groups (relative risk, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-2.3). CONCLUSION: Supplemental oxygen does not reduce the rate of postcesarean delivery infectious morbidity, including endometritis and wound infection.