A comparison of general anesthesia and lumbar epidural analgesia for elective cesarean section

Controversy exists concerning the choice of anesthetic technic for elective cesarean section. Several maternal and newborn parameters were compared during general anesthesia (GA) and lumbar epidural analgesia (LEA). High inspired maternal O2 levels were achieved with both technics. Vigorous, well-oxygenated infants with good umbilical-cord acid-base values were delivered during both GA and LEA. Umbilical artery and vein pH were better with GA, but 1-minute Apgar-minus-color scores were higher and time to sustained respiration was shorter with LEA. On the basis of this study, neither technic can be vigorously recommended over the other from the standpoint of the newborn's condition.