The influence of the mode of anaesthesia in the incidence of neonatal morbidity after an elective caesarean section.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a study of all the cases of elective caesarean section over a three-year period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2004, with the aim to compare general, epidural and spinal anaesthesia in respect to the incidence of neonatal respiratory morbidity.


METHODS
It is an area-based retrospective study of all mothers who underwent elective caesarean section and delivered singleton infants at term gestation. Neonatal respiratory morbidity was recorded and compared between infants delivered with different anaesthetic techniques for caesarean section and those delivered vaginally.


RESULTS
The rates of documented respiratory morbididy did not relate significantly to the anaesthesia mode (p > 0.05). Infants who were delivered at term by elective caesarean section were more likely to have respiratory problems than those who were delivered vaginally (8.1% vs 1.3%), p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The different anaesthesia techniques in elective caesarean section do not seem to influence neonatal respiratory morbidity.
Sigalas
J
J
Department of Neonatology & NICU University General Hospital, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Galazios
G
G
Tsikrikoni
I
I
Scordala
M
M
Vogiatjaki
T
T
Spanopoulou
P I
PI
Tsikouras
P
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies