EVALUATION OF ANAESTHESIA METHODS IN CAESAREAN SECTION FOR FOETAL DISTRESS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anaesthetic technique for Caesareansection which was appropriate for the clinical situation. This retrospective studywas conducted on 240 patients undergoing Caesarean section with indications offoetal distress during a 3-year period (2002-2004). The data were reviewed fromthe patient’s medical record of the Department of Anesthesiology, Dr SoetomoHospital, Surabaya. The patients were divided into three groups, according to thecriteria of foetal heart rates. The success of the anaesthesia methods was determinedby assessing the Apgar scores of the newborn baby. The results were analyse usingKruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square test. P £0.05 was considered as statisticallysignificant. 1- and 5-minute Apgar score of the normal range group was significantlyhigher than that of the bradycardia group (p 0.05), but no significant differenceswas found between the normal range and the tachycardia group (p 0.05). Oneandfive- minute Apgar scores of the sub-arachnoid block group were significantlyhigher than those of the general anesthesia group (p 0.05). One-minute Apgarscore of the ketamine group was significantly higher than that of the thiopentalgroup (p 0.05), but no significant differences in 5-minute Apgar score was foundbetween the ketamine and the thiopental groups (p 0.05). We conclude thatsubarachnoid block is the choice of anaesthesia for patients undergoing Caesareansection for foetal distress’s diagnosed at PS 1 and 2 patients. General anaesthesiawith ketamine Apgar score at one minute better than that of the thiopental