Neurobehavioural effects of propofol on the neonate following elective caesarean section.
Forty mothers undergoing elective Caesarean section under general anaesthesia were allocated randomly to receive either propofol 2.8 mg kg-1 (n = 20) or thiopentone 5 mg kg-1 (n = 20) for induction of anaesthesia. Twenty neonates delivered by uncomplicated vaginal delivery were evaluated also as unmedicated controls. Neurobehavioural examinations were carried out at 1, 4 and 24 h after delivery. Infants in the propofol group had lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min; 25% of them had muscular hypotonus at 5 min. This hypotonus was not noted during the Early Neonatal Neurobehavioural Scale (ENNS) examination. Newborn children examined 1 h after birth, after maternal anaesthesia with propofol, showed a depression in alert state, pinprick and placing reflexes, and mean decremental count in Moro and light. There was a generalized irritability in 25% of them. This depression was not observed at 4 h.
Celleno
D
D
Department of Anaesthesia, General Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Capogna
G
G
Tomassetti
M
M
Costantino
P
P
Di Feo
G
G
Nisini
R
R
D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001034:Apgar Score; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010636:Phenols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015742:Propofol; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D013874:Thiopental / Q000009:adverse effects
D010636:Phenols; D013874:Thiopental; D015742:Propofol