Comparing the effects of general and spinal anesthesia on the postoperative pain intensity in patients undergoing emergent or elective cesarean section

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the effects of

general and spinal anesthesia on postoperative pain intensity and

analgesic agent requirements in patients scheduled for emergent or

elective cesarean sections.

Patients and Methods: This was a prospective, observational

study conducted in patients underwent emergent or elective

cesarean delivery under spinal or general anesthesia. Postoperative

pain intensity and analgesic agent requirements, postoperative

complications and patients’ satisfactions were evaluated during the

first 48 h postoperatively.

Results: A total of 212 parturients were enrolled; 104 (53

elective, 51 emergent) patients received general and 108 (54

elective, 54 emergent) patients received spinal anesthesia.

Preoperatively, patients who underwent emergent cesarean section

under spinal or general anesthesia had higher Numeric Rating Scale

(NRS) scores than the patients who underwent elective cesarean

delivery (p<0.001). In the first postoperative 48 h, NRS pain

scores were similar in patients who underwent emergent or elective

cesarean sections under spinal or general anesthesia. Postoperative

analgesic agent requirements and patients’ satisfactions were not

statistically significant between groups.

Conclusion: The effects of general and spinal anesthesia on

postoperative pain were similar in emergent and elective cesarean

sections. Therefore, postoperative analgesic effect should not be a

determining factor in choosing the anesthesia method in cesarean

sections.

Keywords

• Cesarean section,Emergent cesarean sections,Elective cesarean sections,Postoperative pain,General anesthesia,Spinal anesthesia

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