Surgical and Nonsurgical Procedures Associated with Hospital Delivery in the United States: 1980–1987

Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were used to examine changes in the rates of procedures performed on women hospitalized for delivery from 1980 to 1987 in the United States. The rate of procedures reported per 100 deliveries increased 42 percent. Much of this increase was reported from 1984 to 1987, when there may have been more complete recording of secondary procedures due to the implementation of prospective payment systems. The reported rates of cesarean sections, repair of current obstetric lacerations, artificial rupture of membranes, and vacuum extraction increased throughout the whole period from 1980 to 1987, however, and thus are less likely to have risen because of changes in reporting practices.