Caesarean section delivery in Trinidad.

A 7-year retrospective survey was conducted in order to determine local trends in caesarean section rates, maternal outcome and indications for the procedure. The annual rate of caesarean births has not exceeded 10.0% of deliveries. The overall rate, at 7.4% for the period of study, was not significantly different from that obtained a decade and a half ago. Significant procedure-related morbidity was uncommon. In view of preventable anaesthetic maternal deaths, a plea is made for an increased use of regional in preference to general anaesthesia in selected cases.