Spinal versus epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section
Both spinal and epidural techniques are shown to provide effective anaesthesia for caesarean section.
RHL Commentary by Krisanaprakornkit W
1. EVIDENCE SUMMARY
This review (1) includes ten randomized trials (involving 751 women) conducted during between 1988 and 2001. Its aim was to compare efficacy and safety of spinal and epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section. The results show that both techniques provide effective anaesthesia (as judged in terms of failure rate, need for additional intra-operative analgesia, need for another technique during surgery and maternal satisfaction). With spinal anaesthesia the operation could start sooner [weighted mean difference (WMD) 7.91 minutes less, 95% confidence interval (CI)-11.59–4.23], but there was an increased risk of hypotension that required treatment (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.00–1.51).
One of the benefits of regional over general anaesthesia is postoperative pain control. The results from two studies with significant heterogeneity showed no difference in the need for postoperative pain relief. The studies included in the analysis did not provide enough information for investigating the benefit of adding an opioid to the anaesthetic solution used. For other postoperative outcomes such as nausea/vomiting, postoperative intervention for back pain, Horner’s syndrome and postdural puncture headache requiring treatment, the review authors could not reach a conclusion owing to either their low incidence or not being reported.
The search strategy was rigorous and all possible controlled trials were identified and potentially eligible studies were assessed. The trials were evaluated for methodological quality before inclusion and sensitivity analyses were planned and performed in an appropriate manner. Data are presented clearly and concisely.
2. RELEVANCE TO UNDER-RESOURCED SETTINGS
2.1. Magnitude of the problem
Despite sustained efforts to reduce the Caesarean section rate, the rate has remained stable or even increased in some developing countries (2, 3).
Regional anaesthesia has become the preferred technique for Caesarean delivery. Compared to general anaesthesia, regional anaesthesia is associated with reduced maternal mortality, the need for fewer drugs, and more direct experience of childbirth, faster neonatal-maternal bonding, decreased blood loss and excellent postoperative pain control through the use of neuraxial opioid.
2.2. Applicability of the results
Three of the ten studies included were conducted in developing countries, and the results of these studies were similar to those of studies conducted in developed countries. Thus, the findings of this review would be applicable to under-resourced settings.
2.3. Implementation of the intervention
Compared to spinal anaesthesia, the epidural technique usually needs more time and skill to apply. This type of anaesthesia should be administered only by well trained anaesthesiologists. It might not be feasible to apply the epidural technique for caesarean section in under-resourced settings where appropriately trained anaesthesiologists are often not available. On the other hand, in the case of spinal anaesthesia, a physician or an obstetrician with experience of spinal block could administer the anaesthesia. However, in such cases the patients should be monitored using standard monitoring techniques (4). This should be in accordance with the local authority.
All attempts to prevent maternal hypotension should be made before administering regional anaesthesia. These include preloading the patient with crystalloid or colloid, if available, (5, 6, 7) and wrapping of the legs (8). Intravenous ephedrine, either by infusion (9) or injection, and phenylephrine can be used with reliable result for the prevention and treatment of hypotension (10).
Early evaluation and prompt treatment of serious neurological complication should be performed after regional anaesthesia.
3. RESEARCH
Women anaesthetized with the spinal anaesthesia technique needs treatment for hypotension more often than the epidural method. Since hypotension can affect the baby adversely, future research aimed at investigating the effects of spinal anaesthesia on neonatal outcomes is needed. The benefit of postoperative pain control with neuraxial opioid in the case of regional anaesthesia should be balanced against side-effects such as nausea/vomiting and pruritus. These side-effects may have an impact on maternal well being and ability to breast-feed. Research aimed at investigating such benefit and side-effects of regional anaesthesia is also needed.
Acknowledgement: Prof. Pisake Lumbiganon for his invaluable advice on this commentary
References
- Ng K, Parsons J, Cyna AM, Middleton P. Spinal versus epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews;2004, Issue 2.
- Villar J, Valladares E, Wojdyla D, Zavaleta N, Carroli G, Velazco A, Shah A, et al. Caesarean delivery rates and pregnancy outcomes: the 2005 WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health in Latin America. Lancet 2006;367:1819-1829.
- Sreevidya S, Sathiyasekaran BW. High caesarean rates in Madras (India): a population-based cross sectional study. BJOG 2003;110:106-111.
- Guidelines for regional anesthesia in obstetrics. http://www.asahq.org/publicationsAndServices/standards/11.html;.
- Riley ET, Cohen SE, Rubenstein AJ, Flanagan B. Prevention of hypotension after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section: six percent hetastarch versus lactated Ringer's solution. Anesth Analg 1995;81:838-842.
- Siddik SM, Aouad MT, Kai GE, Sfeir MM, Baraka AS. Hydroxyethylstarch 10% is superior to Ringer's solution for preloading before spinal anesthesia for Cesarean section. Can J Anaesth 2000;47:616-621.
- Dahlgren G, Granath F, Pregner K, Rosblad PG, Wessel H, Irestedt L. Colloid vs. crystalloid preloading to prevent maternal hypotension during spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2005;49:1200-1206.
- van Bogaert LJ. Prevention of post-spinal hypotension at elective cesarean section by wrapping of the lower limbs. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1998;61:233-238.
- Desalu I, Kushimo OT. Is ephedrine infusion more effective at preventing hypotension than traditional prehydration during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section in African parturients. Int J Obstet Anesth 2005;14:294-299.
- Lee A, Ngan Kee WD, Gin T. A quantitative, systematic review of randomized controlled trials of ephedrine versus phenylephrine for the management of hypotension during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Anesth Analg 2002;94:920-926.
This document should be cited as: Krisanaprakornkit W. Spinal versus epidural anaesthesia for caesarean section: RHL commentary (last revised: 15 December 2006). The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: World Health Organization.