title: A survey of obstetric anaesthesia in the Republic of South Africa and South West Africa.
abstract: In this report we analyse the results of a questionaire sent to 341 hospitals throughout the Republic and South West Africa, asking for details of their caesarean section rate and obstetric anesthetic techniques used. Non-specialist practitioners provided 90% of anaesthetic services in the 131 (38,4%) hospitals from which replies were received. General anaesthesia was used in preference to regional anaesthesia in 90% of these hospitals. Of the institutions surveyed, 24% used neither stomach emptying nor antacid therapy pre-operatively. These and other results pertaining to their choice of anaesthetic agents and techniques are presented and discussed.
mesh_terms: D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009276:Namibia; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D013019:South Africa