Primary nonmedically indicated cesarean section ("section on request"): Evidence based or modern vogue?

Cesarean section, initially described as an emergency operative procedure for delivering moribund parturients, is now advocated by many as a routine technique with major advantages over vaginal delivery. In fact, it has been suggested that labor and vaginal delivery are no longer the desired consequence of pregnancy, a conclusion that reflects perceived medical advantages and patient and physician convenience. This article systematically reviews the various medical implications to the mother and infant of this procedure in the hope of facilitating a more rational approach to this spreading and controversial phenomenon.