Are there any statistics on the rate of complications of a c-sect. in HIV positive women? How about statistics in positive women who may experience ruptured membranes during L & D?

These issues have been addressed through several cohort studies, as well as several retrospective case-control studies. Potential complications of C-section include hemorrhage, post-partum fever, and wound infection. Generally, these and other complications occur more frequently following an emergent c-section (particluarly following rupture of membranes) than following a planned C-section. While some studies have reported an increased incidence of complications following C-section in HIV positive women compared with HIV negative women, other studies have not. The Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents During Pregnancy (available in the Treatment Guidelines section of this web site) has a nice summary and referenced discussion of studies pertaining to C-sections in HIV positive women -- please see this for more details.