THE EFFECT OF GENERAL AND EPIDURAL-ANESTHESIA UPON NEONATAL APGAR SCORES IN REPEAT CESAREAN-SECTION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 155  (5) , 641-645
Abstract
Elective cesarean deliveries (195) were studied to determine the effects of general and epidural anesthesia upon the neonatal condition, as reflected by the 1- and 5-min Apgar scores. Ninety were performed under general anesthesia, 0.5% halothane, 50% nitrous oxide and 50% O2; 105 used the epidural technique, 3% chloroprocaine plus 0.75% bupivacaine. All patients were tilted to the left during operation. No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups in terms of mean Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, P > 0.1. Nor was a significant difference noted in terms of depressed infants, Apgar score < 7, at 1 or 5 min, P > 0.1. More significantly, no correlation was noted between the duration of anesthesia and the Apgar scores in either group, P > 0.1. Specifically, no significant increase was found in depressed infants in the prolonged, .gtoreq. 15 min, incision to delivery group, P > 0.05. The use of general anesthesia, in the technique described, yields infants with Apgar scores as good as those of infants delivered under regional block anesthesia. Prolonged duration of general anesthesia is not associated with a depression of the Apgar scores.