IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 40 / Issue 3 / pii/1630388299558-892490513

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Original Research
Maternal and umbilical cord oxygen content and acid-base balance in relation to general, epidural or subarachnoid anesthesia for term elective cesarean section
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1 1st Department of Anesthesiοlogy, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens
2 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens (Greece)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2013, 40(3), 367–371;
Published: 10 September 2013
Abstract

Purpose: To compare maternal and neonatal oxygenation and acid-base status after elective cesarean section (CS) under different anesthetic techniques. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and eighty parturients undergoing elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to receive general (GA, n =140), epidural (EA, n = 117) or subarachnoid anesthesia (SA, n =123). Blood gases, oxygen content, and acid-base status parameters were measured in maternal artery and umbilical cord vessels. Neonatal Apgar scores were also recorded. Results: Umbilical artery pH, HCO3–, and actual base excess (ABE) were significantly higher in the GA compared to SA group (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, and p < 0.05, respectively). Umbilical vein ABE was lower in the SA compared to GA and EA groups (p < 0.05). Oxygen content in maternal artery was higher in the GA and EA groups compared to the SA group (p < 0.05). Neonatal oxygen content in both cord vessels was higher in the GA group compared to EA and SA groups (p < 0.05). Umbilical venous-arterial difference of PO2, oxygen content, and Apgar scores did not differ significantly among groups. Conclusion: Neonatal oxygenation and acid-base status values were better preserved when GA was administered for elective CS compared to regional modalities. Apgar scores and neonatal outcomes were not affected by the anesthetic technique.
Keywords
Anesthesia
Cesarean section
Fetal oxygenation
Fetal acid-base status
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