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A Comparison of General Anesthesia and Lumbar Epidural Analgesia for Elective Cesarean Section
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1977
Year
General AnesthesiaLumbar Epidural AnalgesiaPain MedicineMedicineMaternal 02Postoperative Pain ManagementAnesthesia PracticeMaternal HealthNewborn ParametersSurgeryPain ManagementCaesarean SectionAnesthesiaPerioperative MedicineVein PhElective Cesarean SectionAnesthesiology
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 02 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.