Adverse Events and Factors Associated With Potentially Avoidable Use of General Anesthesia in Cesarean Deliveries

Abstract

(Anesthesiology. 2019;130:912–922) Over the last decade, the use of general anesthesia for cesarean delivery has decreased, as neuraxial anesthesia has been associated with significantly lower risk of adverse maternal events. Consequently, anesthesia-related morbidity also decreased during that time. The estimated rate for general anesthesia use in cesarean delivery in the United States is ∼5.5%. Patients may receive general anesthesia during cesarean delivery due to contraindications to neuraxial techniques, high-risk situations, or specific comorbidities. However, identifying situations in which general anesthesia was used in cesarean delivery without clinical indication could help select targets for quality assurance programs. This study aimed to examine patient-level and hospital-level risk factors for potentially avoidable general anesthesia in cesarean delivery.