Return to routine household and community functions following uncomplicated caesarean delivery: ultra-short versus traditional hospital-stay; a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Background: Caesarean section is currently the commonest major surgical procedure in obstetrics, and duration of admission after this procedure varies widely among centres. There is a need to review the psychosocial and economic implications of recovery after Caesarean delivery, especially concerning return to household and community function.
Aim: To determine the time of return to routine household and community functions; in the ultra-short stay post-operative management protocol, after uncomplicated Caesarean section; and compare with that of the traditional protocol.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial done in 3 centres [Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa (FMC-Y); Diete-Koki Memorial Hospital (DKMH); and Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH)] in Bayelsa state, South-South Nigeria, from April 2024 to April 2025. A total of 179 women who just had uncomplicated Caesarean delivery were randomized into the ultra-short stay (90) and traditional (89) groups. Recruitment was done in the recovery room immediately after uncomplicated Caesarean section. Women in the ultra-short stay (discharged home at 36-48 h post-operation) had minty chewing gums ('menthos') to chew for two hours within the first six hours after surgery; commenced ambulation, oral intake, and had their urethral catheters removed at 6-12 h post-operation. The traditional group (discharged home at 3-5 days post-operation) had conventional care (ambulation, initiation of oral intake and removal of…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 179 participants or records.
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