Shoulder pain after caesarean section: comparison between general and spinal anaesthesia

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Anesthesiology
• Pain Management

Background:

• Shoulder pain is a recognized maternal complication following caesarean section (CS).
• Understanding the influence of anaesthesia type on post-CS shoulder pain is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of shoulder pain after caesarean section (CS).
• To compare the incidence and severity of shoulder pain between women who received spinal anaesthesia (SA) and general anaesthesia (GA).

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 200 women undergoing CS, divided equally into SA and GA groups.
• Demographic data were matched between groups.
• Prevalence, incidence, and severity of shoulder pain were assessed and compared.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of shoulder pain post-CS was 39.45%.
• Shoulder pain incidence was significantly higher in the general anaesthesia (GA) group compared to the spinal anaesthesia (SA) group (p = 0.004).
• Moderate pain severity was more frequent in the GA group, while mild pain was more prevalent in the SA group.

Conclusions:

• Shoulder pain is a significant complication after caesarean section.
• General anaesthesia is associated with a higher incidence and greater severity of shoulder pain compared to spinal anaesthesia.