Effect of general anaesthesia versus spinal anaesthesia on apgar score in elective caesarean section

ABSTRACT

To compare the effects of general versus spinal anaesthesia on Apgar score of neonates in elective Caesarean section. Randomized control trial. The Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive care CMH Lahore over duration of six month from 20-02-07 to 19-08-07. A total of 100 pregnant patients undergoing elective Caesarean section were divided into two groups Group-A [General anaesthesia], Group-B [spinal anaesthesia]. In both the groups the patients were randomly divided using random number table and were blind to the technique of anaesthesia used. Mean Apgar score at one minute in group-A was 6.4 +/- 1.1 and in group-B was 8.4 +/- 1.1. The difference between two groups was statistically significant [p< 0.001]. Mean Apgar score at 5 minute was observed 9.4 +/- 0.7 in group-A and 9.5 +/- 0.6 in group-B. The difference between these two groups was not statistically significant [p=0.202]. Apgar score of neonates whose mothers received spinal anaesthesia was better at 1 minute than neonates whose mothers received general anaesthesia but there was no significant difference in Apgar score after 5 minutes in both techniques