OBJECTIVE:

To determine the main characteristics of patients with previous cesarean section.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Quantitative, descriptive, observational and retrospective study carried out at the Regional Hospital of Tropical Medicine Julio César Demarini Caro, Chanchamayo, Junín, Peru, between January 2020 and June 2021. The information was collected from the complete and legible medical records of the research subjects and was collected in an Excel database and processed in SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and simple frequencies were applied.

RESULTS:

The sample studied consisted of 200 women whose last gestation was terminated by cesarean section; the indication was, precisely, previous cesarean section. Forty percent had no other secondary indication for cesarean section and 19% had acute fetal distress as an additional indication. Obstetric characteristics: multiparous (83.5%), with adequate inter-gestational period (62.5%), with adequate prenatal care (69%), and with gynecoid pelvis (84.5%). Maternal complications: moderate and severe anemia (64.5%), uterine rupture (10.5%) and uterine atony (5%). Perinatal complications: Apgar less than 7 (15%), neonatal asphyxia (11%) and respiratory failure syndrome (9%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Indications for previous cesarean sections were acute fetal distress, cephalopelvic disproportion, funicular disorders, hypertensive disorders, severe oligohydramnios and presentation dystocias. The main maternal and perinatal complications were moderate and severe anemia, uterine rupture, uterine atony, newborn Apgar less than 7, neonatal asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome and premature newborn.