Assessment of side effects of spinal anesthesia and general anesthesia in cesarean section

Abstract

Background: Over the past few decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of cesarean deliveries performed by section in most industrialized countries. The present study was conducted to compare side effects of spinal anesthesia with general anesthesia in cesarean section. Materials & Methods: 90 pregnant women scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia (SA) were divided into 2 groups. Each group had 45 patients Group I received general anesthesia and group II received spinal anesthesia. Caesarean section was performed in both the groups. Side-effects were recorded in both groups. Results:  The age group 20-30 years had 25 patients and 27 patients and age group 30-40 years had 20 patients and 18 patients in group I and II respectively. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). Complication was headache in 3 and 2, hypotension in 2 and 1, fever in 5 and 3, vomiting in 4 and 2, pain in 3 and 1, post- operative infection in 2 and 0 and ICU admission in 2 and 1 in group I and II respectively.  The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Spinal anesthesia had less side effects as compared to general anesthesia in patients undergoing caesarean section.