[Spinal analgesia for cesarean section]

Over a twelve-month period, 47 of a total of 127 women had spinal anaesthesia (SA) for caesarean section (SC). Data from the anaesthesia and the postoperative period were collected and a questionnaire was sent to the mothers after discharge. The analgesia was sufficient in 45 patients. Two had general anaesthesia (GA). One further patient had GA because of overwhelming anxiety. Despite crystalloid preloading, 45% had a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure. Hypotensive cases were treated with a bolus of ephedrine i.v. Forty-one of the new-born babies scored Apgar 10/1 and all scored 10/5. No postdural puncture headaches were observed during the patients' stay in hospital. Forty women answered the questionnaire, and of these, 38 said they would prefer SA in the event of future SC. Six out of eight women who had previously had epidural analgesia preferred SA. We find that SA is a safe, easy, and reliable method for SC, although supplementary analgetic and antiemetic may be needed, but it is mandatory to maintain the systolic blood pressure (cardiac output) close to the preanalgetic values.