The contribution of antenatal corticosteroids administration on improving neonatal respiratory function after elective cesarean section

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of corticosteroids administration 48 hours before the elective cesarean sections in the lung function improvement of the neonates.

Patients and methods: The participants were enrolled in two groups. Group 1 was consisted of 315 pregnant women (43.9% – 58 of them were at 37^th gestational week, 150 at 38^th and 107 at 39^th gestational week) who have been undergone to corticosteroids administration Group 2 was consisted of 403 pregnant women (56% – 63 of them were at 37^th gestational week, 217 at 38^th and 123 at 39^th gestational week) who did not receive any corticosteroids Respiratory function was assessed by recording the neonatal Apgar score at 1st and 5th minute of life for both groups of women.

Results: There were no significant differences in APGAR scores, at the 1^st (p = 0.568) and 5^th (p = 0.654)min between the two groups of women. The incidence of problems was significantly higher among women who did not receive corticosteroids as compared to those who received (3.7% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.033). In the group 2 the lack of corticosteroids administration was associated with a 3-fold increase in risk of respiratory problem (OR, 3.01). In the 38^th week the lack of corticosteroids administration yielded an odds ratio of respiratory problems of the newborn of 7.2-fold..

Conclusion: The single-dose of prenatal administration of betamethasone 48 hours before committing elective caesarean section, seems to improve the lung function of neonates.