Role of Prophylactic Dexamethasone Administration Before Elective Cesarean Section at Term in Reducing the Incidence of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (A Randomized Controlled Trial)

Term neonates born between (37-39 wks) by elective cesarean section are likely to develop respiratory distress syndrome more than neonates born by vaginal delivery, and this risk increases for the subgroup of neonates born after elective caeserean section , i.e. before onset of labour , , with potentially severe implications The risk is decreasing with advanced gestational age and neonates born in 37 weeks are at 1.7 times more than those born at 38 weeks , which in turn are at 2.4 times more than those born at 39 weeks If the pregnant female is given four intramuscular injections of 6 mg of dexamethasone , 48 hrs before elective caesarean section decreases the neonatal respiratory morbidity. Five studies lasting between 3 to 20 years with more than 1500 patients have shown no adverse effect of single course of antenatal corticosteroid , neither through infection of the fetus or mother nor in long term neurological or cognitive effect According to Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018 , prophylactic administration of antenatal corticosteroids appeared to reduce the rate of RDS by approximately 52%. It also reduced the need for NICU admission, both due to respiratory morbidity (by approximately 58%) and for any indication. The reduction of NICU admissions due to respiratory reasons is consistent with the reduction of respiratory morbidity after corticosteroid administration