Open AccessA snap-shot survey of spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section: The Nigeria experience
Author(s) -
Charles Imarengiaye,
Felicia Asudo,
Allen Akinmola,
Bode Lawal
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of clinical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2468-6859
pISSN - 2408-7408
DOI - 10.4103/jcls.jcls_46_17
Subject(s) - spinal anesthesia , caesarean section , shot (pellet) , section (typography) , medicine , anesthesia , snap , regional anaesthesia , computer science , pregnancy , biology , materials science , genetics , computer graphics (images) , metallurgy , operating system
Background and Objective: In the last several decades, there has been a shift from general anaesthesia to regional anaesthesia for caesarean section worldwide. This rise notwithstanding, it is pertinent to determine the factors associated with the wholesome application of spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section in Nigeria. Method: A snap-shot survey was conducted in some selected hospitals in Nigeria. The survey determined the sociodemographic characteristics of patients, indication for surgery, grade of anaesthesia provider, contraindication to spinal anaesthesia and any other factor that may be noticed in the selected hospital (lack of appropriate drugs, spinal needles, absence of relevant expertise etc). Result: A total of 99 patients were attended to in four of the selected six hospitals within the study period. Thirty six (36.4%) women were nulliparous and maternal factors (82.8%) were the leading indications for caesarean section. Consultant anaesthetists (23.2%) and Senior Registrars (35.4%) were the leading anaesthesia providers for the caesarean sections. Eighty five (85.9%) patients received spinal anaesthesia and 14 (14.1%) had general anaesthesia for the Caesarean section. Fetal indication for Caesarean section was associated with a 3-fold chance of using general anaesthesia for the surgery (p = 0.0138, RR = 3.6, 95%CI 1.44 – 9.1). Conclusion: Over 85% of Caesarean sections in some hospitals in Nigeria were conducted under spinal anaesthesia. Fetal indications for caesarean section provoked over a 3-fold increase in general anaesthesia for caesarean section. The use of general anaesthesia for caesarean delivery was due to fetal indications for surgery, antepartum haemorrhage and failed spinal anaesthesia