Controlled Clinical Trial of Supplemental Oxygen for the Prevention of Post-Cesarean Infectious Morbidity

Previous studies have demonstrated that patients who undergo surgery while they under general anesthesia have fewer wound infections if they receive higher concentrations of oxygen but this has never been studied in women who are undergoing cesarean section. We plan to randomize women who are undergoing cesarean to receive either standard of care oxygen flow through a nasal cannula during their cesarean section only or a higher concentration of oxygen than they would typically receive through a face mask. Women will receive this therapy during their cesarean and for 2 hours afterwards. We will follow them after their surgery for evidence of infection either in their wound or their uterus.