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Category‐1 caesarean section: a survey of anaesthetic and peri‐operative management in the UK *
Author(s) -
Kinsella S. M.,
Walton B.,
Sashidharan R.,
Draycott T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2010.06265.x
Subject(s) - medicine , caesarean section , guideline , resuscitation , anesthesia , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , pathology , biology
Summary A national survey of anaesthetic and peri‐operative management of category‐1 caesarean section was sent to 245 consultant‐led maternity units. There was a 70% response rate. The median (IQR [range]) general anaesthetic rate was 51% (29%–80% [6%–100%]), 12% (9%–16% [3%–93%]), 4% (2%–5% [<1%–18%]), for category‐1 caesarean section, categories 1–3 (non‐elective/emergency) and category‐4 (elective) caesarean section, respectively. The main operating theatre for caesarean section is on the delivery suite in 151 (88%) units, and 112 (66%) units also have a second theatre in the same location. One hundred and thirty‐nine (81%) use the standard urgency classification described in the NICE caesarean section guideline. However, only 72 (42%), 24 (14%), and 16 (9%) units comply with this guideline’s recommended decision‐delivery intervals for category‐1 (≤ 30 min), category‐2 (≤ 30 min) and category‐3 (≤ 75 min) caesarean sections, respectively. Practice in the smaller units was similar to that in the larger units, although there was less availability of a dedicated anaesthetist, intra‐uterine resuscitation guidelines and operating theatres on the delivery suite in the smaller units.