The effect of spinal and general anaesthesia on maternal and fetal cortial levels in effective caeserian section deliveries

Abstract

Objective: To compare the levels of maternal and fetal cortisol in patients who receive either spinal or general anesthesia in elective caesarian section deliveries. Setting: Tertiary Hospital in Lagos. Methods: Pregnant women were randomly assigned into two groups to receive spinal n=30 (group I) and general n=30 (group II) aneathesia for elective caesarian section. Maternal and cortisol were sampled five minute of ceasarian section of delivery and fetal and blood cortisol levels five minute of delivery and compared statistically. Results: Maternal cortisol concentrations were high in general aneathesia groups (18.25+ 2.9mg/dl) than spinal aneasthesia groups (10.5+3.2mg/dl) (R<0.001.). Fetal and blood cortisol concentration in general aneasthesia groups were higher than (13.6+ 4.2mg/dl) than spinal aneasthesia group (71.+ 3.9mg/dl) (P<0.001). A significant positive correlation between maternal and fetal cortisol concentration were found between general and spinal aneasthesia groups. Conclusion: Our result showed lower matenal and fetal cortial concentrations in spinal aneasthesia than in general aneasthesia. Spinal aneasthesia seem to be less stressful for mothers and fetus.