Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although epidural and spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section is the general choice recently, both of the two anesthesia methods still have imperfects. Caudal anesthesia has been considered more appropriate for gynecological surgery. However, there is a lack of experiments on the effects of epidural block combined with caudal block anaesthesia for cesarean section.
METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients undergoing elective cesarean section were recruited to this clinical trial and randomized to receive epidural block, subarachnoid block, and epidural block combined with caudal block. The primary objective was to compare and evaluate the clinical efficacy of three groups. Secondary outcomes included side effects and the quality of intraoperative and postoperative comfort assessment.
RESULTS: The times to cryanaesthesia at T10 and time to maximum motor block were shorter in group SAB. The maximal sensory blockade spinal segments of group SAB(15.18±0.90)and EAC (14.74±1.16)were much more than group EPB(10.74±1.77). Compared to group EPB(155.40±13.28) and EAC(160.70±12.58), the duration of complete regression of motor block was longer in group SAB(190.00±13.25). The intraoperative quality of anesthesia was judged by the gynecologist was excellent in group EAC and SAB(P=0.005), and by the parturients was only best in group EAC(P=0.001). The parturients felt more comfortable after surgery in group EPB and group EAC(P=0.007).
CONCLUSIONS: Epidural block combined with caudal block anaesthesia can achieve the same anesthetic effect as spinal anaesthesia which is bettter than epidural anaesthesia for elective cesarean section, and have the highest level of intraoperative and postoperative comfort for parturient.
Intravenous ondansetron to prevent hypotension during cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia
