Anaesthesia for lower-segment caesarean section: Changing perspectives

Indian J Anaesth. 2010 Sep;54(5):409-14. doi: 10.4103/0019-5049.71037.

Abstract

The number of caesarean sections has increased over the last two decades, especially in the developed countries. Hence, it has increasingly become a greater challenge to provide care for the parturient, but this has given obstetric anaesthetists a greater opportunity to contribute to obstetric services. While caesarean deliveries were historically performed using general anaesthesia, there is a recent significant move towards regional anaesthesia. Unique problems that patients with obesity and pre-eclampsia present will be discussed in the present article. New medications and devices now used in obstetric anaesthesia will change the practice and perspectives of our clinical practice.

Keywords: Caesarean section; obstetrics; regional anaesthesia.