The effect of general and epidural anesthesia upon neonatal Apgar scores in repeat cesarean section

Abstract

One-hundred and ninety-five elective cesarean deliveries were studied to determine the effects of general and epidural anesthesia upon the neonatal condition, as reflected by the one and five minute Apgar scores. Ninety were performed under general anesthesia, 0.5 per cent halothane, 50 per cent nitrous oxide and 50 per cent oxygen; 105 used the epidural technique, 3 per cent chloroprocaine plus 0.75 per cent bupivacaine. All patients were tilted to the left during operation. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of mean Apgar scores at one and five minutes, p less than 0.1. Neither was a significant difference noted in terms of depressed infants, Apgar score less than 7, at one or five minutes, p greater than 0.1. More significantly, no correlation was noted between the duration of anesthesia and the Apgar scores in either group, p greater than 0.1. Specifically, no significant increase was found in depressed infants in the prolonged, greater than or equal to 15 minutes, incision to delivery group, p greater than 0.05. These data seem to suggest that the use of general anesthesia, in the technique described, yields infants with Apgar scores as good as those of infants delivered under regional block anesthesia and that prolonged duration of general anesthesia is not associated with a depression of the Apgar scores.