Effects of Type of Intrauterine Anesthesia on Neurophysiological Assessment of Newborn Babies

Background: It is proposed in different studies that different types of anesthesia affect the physiological status of the neonate while other studies revealed no change. Aim: To determine and compare the changes in neonatal APGAR score at 1 and 5 minutes according to the type of anesthesia. Study design: It was a comparative study and was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. Duration of the study was of six months duration. Sample size: The subjects were divided into three equal groups; group A, group B and group C. Each group comprised of 28 patients. Subjects in group A were those who were undergoing spontaneous vaginal delivery, group B was composed of subjects who were undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia and group C was composed of subjects who were undergoing cesarean delivery under general anesthesia. A strict inclusion and exclusion criterion was followed. Physiological status of the baby was assessed from by measuring APGAR score. Results: The results of this study show significant difference between the study groups. Conclusion: Subjects undergoing SVD and Cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia are associated with significantly better APGAR score at 1 and 5 minutes as compared to Cesarean delivery under general anesthesia.