Came home from a placental abruption resulting in a horrifying emergency c section and 2 week hospital stay and made a bad choice to watch House of the Dragon where cesareans are a death sentence. I did a bit of research and found out medieval c sections did happen but were only performed if the mother was dying anyway as it was always fatal. I understand that infection would’ve killed any surviving women back then but apparently they died during the operation anyway. So I’m confused about what killed women during the procedure it’s self? As far as I’m aware I did not receive a blood transfusion so it can’t have been blood loss which would’ve been my guess pre my own experience. Did they not have the medical tools necessary to put those women back together afterwards eg stitches? Or did they not know how to make insicions in a non fatal way?
In: 45
Cutting people open is easy.
Cutting people open *and they survive* is harder.
Medieval C-sections usually break the #1 rule of Emergency Medicine: Air goes in and out; Blood goes round and round; deviating from this is Bad.
Such a process can cause lots of blood to go Out if not done carefully, but in medieval times they could not put blood back In.
In Modern Times ™, surgeons are trained to cut people open with Great Skill, and in such a way as to limit blood loss, such as avoiding major blood vessels, clamping them shut if necessary, [scalpels that automatically cauterize incisions](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4236379/), tools that are sharp and clean, cutting techniques that minimize collateral damage, and so on.
Also not all blood loss needs to be replaced with blood. Saline (precision salt water) can work up to a certain point to replace blood that has gone Out. They will also have Highly Trained Support Staff to carefully monitor your vitals and put blood back In if it’s really needed.
Latest Answers