The incidence and predictors of hypoxaemia during induction of general anaesthesia for caesarean delivery in two South African hospitals : a prospective, observational, dual-centre study

Caesarean delivery (CD) is the most commonly performed operation in Africa and is associated with an unacceptably high maternal mortality (1 in 200 CD).1 The rate of CD in South Africa has been reported to be as high as 25.7%, and junior doctors, such as community service medical officers, are frequently required to administer anaesthesia for CD in resource-limited settings. In the South African 2014–2016 Saving Mothers report, anaesthesiarelated mortality rose to over 3%, with more than half of these deaths related to airway management issues.2 As a result, the report specifically identified skilled airway management during CD as an area of national concern.