title: Study of patient satisfaction and self-expressed problems after emergency caesarean delivery under subarachnoid block.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Subarachnoid block is one of the common modes of anaesthesia opted for emergency caesarean section, if the maternal and foetal conditions are favourable. Various factors influence the quality of care administered during the procedure. This questionnaire based study was undertaken to look for self-expressed problems in peri-operative period in patients undergoing emergency caesarean surgery under subarachnoid block.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the parturients who underwent emergency caesarean section under subarachnoid block during 6 months period were distributed a questionnaire in post-operative period. They were encouraged to fill and return the form within 15 days. Patient satisfaction and the self-expressed problems were analysed at the end of 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seventy five out of 220 parturients responded. 58.3% of them said that they were explained about the anaesthesia prior to surgery and 85.3% overall remained anxious. With people around them, 93.1% of them felt comfortable and 91.4% expressed that they were made comfortable inside the theatre. The self-expressed problems were shivering (43.4%), breathlessness (21.7%), pain (20%), post-operative headache (15.4%) and backache (19.4%). Parturients who heard their babies cry was 85.1%. After their babies were shown after delivery, 77.1% mothers slept well; 86.9% fed their babies within 4 h of delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-operative communication in emergency caesarean section by health personnel did not reduce the anxiety level, which shows that communication was ineffective. Intra-operative psychological support like making the patient comfortable, showing baby to mother and early breast feeding improve bonding between child and mother and essentially contribute to patient satisfaction.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors: Vr
authors: V
authors: Hemanth Kumar
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors: Sameer M
authors: SM
authors: Jahagirdar
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors: Umesh Kumar
authors: UK
authors: Athiraman
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Sripriya
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Parthasarathy
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry, India.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ravishankar
keywords: Emergency caesarean section; patient satisfaction; subarachnoid block