Israel’s Ministry of Health has allowed two women to give birth by “French Caesarean section” as an exception after such operations were suspended last week.
Apparently, the actual “embargo” on such operations no longer applies, but in order to obtain permission for such an operation, it is necessary that the woman in labor be fully informed of the possible complications. Special control of the ministry over the conduct of such operations remains.
On January 8, the Israeli Ministry of Health asked hospitals to suspend “French method” caesarean sections due to concerns that this method leads to more complications than the “conventional method”. The problem associated with this technique was discussed by the National Board of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
According to the Ministry of Health, about a fifth of the operations are carried out in Israel according to the “French method”.
The first caesarean section operations according to the “French method” were carried out in Israel in 2017. It was believed that this method reduces the risks of surgery and significantly reduces the recovery period.
With a “normal” caesarean section, a transverse incision is made in the anterior abdominal wall and body of the uterus. In this case, the muscles of the abdominal wall are not cut, but they are moved apart along the midline. Even though this operation is considered relatively easy, the recovery period is long.
According to the French method of caesarean section, developed in France, a longitudinal incision is made in the tissues surrounding the abdominal muscles in the direction of the muscle fibers, and the separation of the muscles is done to the left to the midline, where there is no connective tissue. Thanks to this, muscle recovery is much faster.
With the French method, there is no need to insert a catheter into the bladder and there is no penetration into the peritoneum (the membrane that covers the inner walls of the abdominal cavity). This was thought to reduce the chance of amniotic fluid embolism and bowel problems. After the operation is completed, a subcutaneous suture is made, and the skin itself sticks together.
As another advantage of this method, it was indicated that the woman in labor can observe the process of childbirth and help the birth of the child. After the “conventional 2 caesarean section, women are discharged from the hospital after five days, with the “French method” the patient goes home after 36 hours.