General versus neuraxial anaesthesia for caesarean section: impact on the duration of hospital stay.
We investigated retrospectively the duration of hospital stay of 1,619 women who received general (GA) (n = 582) or neuraxial anaesthesia (combined spinal-epidural [CSEA] (n = 614), epidural [EA] (n = 423)) for caesarean delivery over the years 2002-2005. Hospital stay was also analysed for the different obstetricians involved. Overall duration of hospital stay differed between 2002 and 2005 (p < 0.0001) but not between CSEA and EA (p = 0.460). Overall duration of hospital stay differed between neuraxial and GA group (p < 0.001). Duration of hospital stay of the GA group showed a progressive decrease between 2002 and 2005 (p = 0.002). Duration of hospital stay after neuraxial anaesthesia differed between 2002 and 2005 (p = 0.013) and among different surgeons (p < 0.001). Discharge rates from the hospital were shorter after neuraxial anaesthesia versus GA for the 3rd and 4th postoperative days (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Neuraxial anaesthesia for caesarean section seems to be associated with shorter duration of hospital stay than GA.
Fassoulaki
A
A
Department of Anaesthesiology, Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece. fassoula@aretaieio.uoa.gr
Petropoulos
G
G
Staikou
C
C
Siafaka
I
I
Sarantopoulos
C
C
D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies