Comparison of neonatal effects of epidural and general anesthesia for cesarean section.

Author(s): Sener EB, Guldogus F, Karakaya D, Baris S, Kocamanoglu S, Tur A

Affiliation(s): Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ondokuzmayis Universit, and University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey. bengimd@hotmail.com

Publication date & source: 2003, Gynecol Obstet Invest., 55(1):41-5.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study ; Randomized Controlled Trial

We assessed the influence of anesthetic technique for cesarean section on neonatal outcome. Thirty parturient women (ASA I/II) were randomly allocated into two groups. In Group GA general anesthesia was induced with 4 mg.kg(-1) thiopental and 1.5 mg.kg(-1) succinylcholine. In group EA epidural anesthesia was performed with 20 ml 0.375% bupivacaine through L(3-4) inter-space. 1-min Apgar scores were significantly higher in group EA (p < 0.001). Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity scores at 2 and 24 h were higher in group EA (p < 0.001). In terms of blood gas values, umbilical arterial pH and pO(2) values were higher in group EA (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The first breast-feeding intervals were found to be shorter in group EA (p < 0.001). We conclude that in terms of better Apgar and NAC scores, acid-base status and earlier initiation of breast-feeding, the epidural anesthesia may be preferred to general anesthesia in cesarean section. Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel