The history of cesarean technique.

Abstract

Cesarean section has been practiced since ancient times. Unfortunately, no ancient medical documents describing the techniques for cesarean section are extant. In the early medieval period, cesarean section was usually performed by midwives. One of the first explicit instructions in medical literature on cesarean technique dates from about 1480 ce from southern Germany. We discuss the evolution of cesarean surgical technique and point up the contribution of many giants in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, such as Blundell, Frank, Harris, Joel-Cohen, Kehrer, Kerr, Lebas, Levret, Maylard, Pfannenstiel, Porro, Portes, and Sanger.