Faculty Collaboration Database

Change in anaesthetic practice for Caesarean section in Germany. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2005 Feb;49(2):170-6

Date

02/18/2005

Pubmed ID

15715617

DOI

10.1111/j.1399-6576.2004.00583.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-14644411054 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   51 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Initial data from 1996 revealed that in contrast to several other countries general anaesthesia was the preferred anaesthetic technique for Caesarean section in Germany. However, anaesthetic practice for Caesarean section has changed during the last decades world-wide. This investigation was performed to obtain more actual data on anaesthetic procedures in obstetric patients in German hospitals.

METHODS: Questionnaires on the practice of anaesthesia for Caesarean section were mailed to 918 German departments of anaesthesiology. Furthermore, the survey evaluated severe perioperative complications in obstetric patients.

RESULTS: The 397 completed replies in this survey represent 41.3% of all German deliveries in 2002. Spinal anaesthesia is now the most common technique (50.5%) for elective Caesarean section. In case of urgent and emergency Caesarean, delivery figures decrease to 34.6% and 4.8%, respectively. Epidural anaesthesia is performed in 21.6% of scheduled and 13.2% and 1.0% of non-scheduled urgent or emergency Caesarean sections, respectively. Four maternal deaths and several non-fatal episodes of gastric content aspiration were reported by the respondents.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared to data obtained 6 years ago a significant increase in regional anaesthesia for Caesarean section has developed, with spinal anaesthesia being the preferred technique. Surveys can help to initiate discussion and improve current practice of anaesthetic care.

Author List

Stamer UM, Wiese R, Stüber F, Wulf H, Meuser T

Author

Thomas Meuser MD Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Analysis of Variance
Anesthesia, Epidural
Anesthesia, General
Anesthesia, Obstetrical
Anesthesia, Spinal
Cesarean Section
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Germany
Health Care Surveys
Humans
Pneumonia, Aspiration
Pregnancy
Surveys and Questionnaires