09 Jul Why Women Who Have C-Sections Are at Risk for Wound Complications and How SMARTKITS™ Can Help.

Millions of babies are delivered annually via Cesarean section, or C-section. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control reports that about 31 percent of babies in the U.S. are born this way. Even though C-section births are relatively safe, infections can still occur. Here’s why women who have C-sections are at risk for wound complications and how SMARTKITS™ from FritzFinn can help. 

Why women who have C-sections are at risk for wound complications

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications following a C-section birth. According to one study, the incidence of these infections ranges from 3-20 percent, and it is even associated with high maternal mortality rates up to 3 percent. Another study concluded that rates of surgical site infections were as high as 6.8 percent. 

Risk factors for C-section wound complications

According to these two studies, there are several risk factors for wound complications. Among them are the duration of labor, the size of the midline incision, and the rupture of the membrane prior to the C-section. 

Other risk factors include Diabetes Mellitus (DM), hypertension, obesity, smoking, having a previous C-section, and poor post-operative wound care. 

Signs of C-section infection

A C-section scar can become infected when exposed to bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of post-C-section wound infection. Other bacteria that can enter the wound include Streptococcus, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis.

When this bacterium enters the wound, it can spread to other areas, causing an abdominal or uterine infection. Symptoms of a post-C-section infection will generally appear a few days after the procedure. The signs of an infection include:

• Swelling around the incision
• Redness around the incision
• Fluid leaking from the wound

Additional signs of uterine or internal infection after a C-section might include increased abdominal pain, fever, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge. 

How FritzFinn can help improve post-C-section wound care

If you are a healthcare provider for women who have Cesarian sections, improving the outcomes for these new mothers should be a priority. And over 4 percent of patients having wound complications is just too high for a class of patients who are caring for their newborn babies. 

FritzFinn offers wound care solutions that make life easier for both the patient and provider as well as improve patient outcomes. Our wound care products are completely customized per patient and delivered directly to the patient’s door. Here’s how it works:

The physician writes a prescription for The Care Package, which is Fritz Finn’s wound care product. This is a customized daily-use bundle of wound care items to help the patient treat their C-section wound. It includes gloves, saline, gauze, collagen, and bandage covering specific to the incision size. 

The SMARTKITS delivered daily by FritzFinn to your patient’s door make it easier for them to care for their post-C-section wound. Because it is all in a single-use package and comes with detailed instructions, it is less confusing for patients and will lead to better healthcare outcomes. 

To learn more about how FritzFinn’s unique solution can help your patients and practice, reach out to us to schedule a free consultation.