Pain during cesarean delivery: risk factors, mitigation, and current approaches

Pain during cesarean delivery (PDCD) has been overlooked and underreported and is associated with a traumatic birth experience and long-term morbidity. We review the studies reporting on PDCD and summarize available guidance providing roadmaps for anesthesiologists caring for patients during cesarean delivery.

PDCD is a patient-reported outcome and should not be defined by interventions mitigating insufficient neuraxial anesthesia, such as supplemental analgesic medication or general anesthesia. Depending on the cohorts studied and definitions used, current reported rates of PDCD range between 2 and 36%. Preoperative patient counseling, risk stratification, and testing of neuraxial block are mitigating strategies; ultimately, if pain occurs, it should be managed skillfully applying shared decision-making with a supportive follow-up to reduce psychological trauma. Statements from three international organizations offer guidance to prevent and treat PDCD.

This review provides strategies to mitigate the occurrence of PDCD, with targeted approaches to better prevent and manage PDCD.