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Charles A. Peach, MD
Gastonia, NC

JAMA. 1991;265(5):595.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor. —

I noted with interest the exchange of letters between Drs Overhulse and Stafford¹ regarding cesarean section rates. I was especially intrigued by Dr Stafford's contention that an increased risk of death exists for planned cesarean sections compared with vaginal deliveries. Because I did not recall any specific study of this subject, I immediately reviewed the article² cited by Dr Stafford. As I suspected, that author did not specifically address the subject of planned cesarean sections, but reviewed the maternal mortality and morbidity of cesarean section in general, without subclassification. Dr Stafford's citation of this article in support of his contention that planned cesarean sections have a higher mortality rate than vaginal delivery is, therefore, inappropriate. In similar fashion, Dr Stafford contends that "postcesarean section infection occurs in approximately 15% of cesarean deliveries even with antibiotic prophylaxis."

Again, the article³ cited does not refer . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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