[Regional anesthesia in emergency cesarean section. Quality of epidural and spinal anesthesia]

From 1987 to 1989, 97.8% of non-elective caesarean sections at Innherred general hospital were performed under regional anaesthesia (N = 271). A retrospective analysis showed that the mean time from giving the anaesthetic until start of surgery was 28.1 min. with epidural anaesthesia and 12.7 min. with spinal anaesthesia. Mean time was 25.9 and 9.3 min. respectively in cases of suspected asphyxia. In eight women primary anesthesia was unsuccessful; six received further spinal anaesthesia and two general anaesthesia. Regional anaesthesia is considered safe for the purpose, but in cases of serious asphyxia there is some controversy as to whether spinal or general anaesthesia is to be preferred.