(Update of a) systematic review on the impact of elective early term (< 39th gestational week) caesarean sections on maternal and neonatal health - a protocol

Table 1 PICOS

Population	Women with electively planned caesarean section beyond prematurity (≥ 37th gestational week), regardless of prior pregnancy or prior birth mode. WHO Stratum A
Intervention	Elective caesarean section at 37th + 0 until 38th + 6
Comparator	Elective caesarean section ≥ 39th + 0
Outcome	Primary outcome:
	Neonatal death, neonatal intensive care unit admission and maternal death
	Secondary outcome:
	Neonatal: intensive care unit length of stay, respiratory morbidity, RDS, TTN, pneumothorax, hypoglycemia*, Apgar score, hyperbilirubinemia needing phototherapy, birth weight and near miss
	Maternal: hysterectomy, bleeding needing transfusion, near miss and adverse events
Study type	RCT, quasi RCT and cohort study

RCT randomized controlled trial, RDS respiratory distress syndrome, TTN Transient tachypnea of the neonate
*Depending on the age at assessment: 0–3 h < 2.0 mmol/l; 3–24 h < 2.2 mmol/l; > 24 h < 2.5 mmol/l [30]

ISSN: 2046-4053