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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2017  |  Volume : 12  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 61-65

Postcesarean section patient's concept and satisfaction about types of anesthesia


1 Department of Surgery, Anesthesia and Intensive Care, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
2 Medical student in College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
3 College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
4 Department of Radiology, King Faisal Medical City, Abha, Saudi Arabia
5 Department of Anesthesia, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Meshaat, Saudi Arabia
6 Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Abha Maternity and Children Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia

Date of Web Publication24-May-2018

Correspondence Address:
Gamal Abdalla Mohamed Ejaimi
College of Medicine, King Khalid University, P.O. Box: 960 - Postal Code: 61421, Abha
Saudi Arabia
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DOI: 10.4103/summ.summ_14_17

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  Abstract 


Background: The aim of this study was to determine and assess the awareness, concept, and satisfaction of pregnant women about anesthesia for cesarean section (C/S) and to evaluate the role of health staff, including anesthesia, in providing safe, efficient anesthesia. Materials and Methods: A total of 170 post-C/S women admitted to the postnatal wards or attended the postnatal clinics at Abha Maternity and Children Hospital, Khamis Mushayt City Hospital, and Khamis Mushayt Military Hospital were included. A self-administered questionnaire was designed. It comprised personal characteristics, types of anesthesia, satisfaction about anesthesia, and complications during and after the procedure. Results: The use of general anesthesia among patients with previous C/S was found to be higher than spinal anesthesia. However, in the current C/S, the use of spinal anesthesia had increased to reach 53.5%. Excellent satisfaction about anesthesia was demonstrated by only 43.5% of patients, while 29.4% and 17% stated good and fair satisfaction, respectively. A 9.4% of patients demonstrated poor satisfaction. Breastfeeding within the day of the procedure and 1 day after was 29.4% and 34.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Utilization of general anesthesia as a technique for C/S was high among parturients. Excellent satisfaction about the procedure and anesthesia was found to be low. Regional anesthesia should be used for C/S whenever it is feasible. Implementation of modes of birth delivery and modalities of anesthesia for C/S in the antenatal program is recommended.

Keywords: Anesthesia, cesarean section, delivery, general, regional, spinal


How to cite this article:
Mohamed Ejaimi GA, Alzhrani FA, Alfaifi WH, Ahmed SS, Alzhrani F, Alzhrani AA, Al Ghadam FM, Elamin Alhindi YM. Postcesarean section patient's concept and satisfaction about types of anesthesia. Sudan Med Monit 2017;12:61-5

How to cite this URL:
Mohamed Ejaimi GA, Alzhrani FA, Alfaifi WH, Ahmed SS, Alzhrani F, Alzhrani AA, Al Ghadam FM, Elamin Alhindi YM. Postcesarean section patient's concept and satisfaction about types of anesthesia. Sudan Med Monit [serial online] 2017 [cited 2018 Jul 22];12:61-5. Available from: http://www.sudanmedicalmonitor.org/text.asp?2017/12/2/61/233100




  Introduction Top


The lower-segment cesarean section (C/S) is one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide. It could be performed under general or regional anesthesia. Regional anesthesia involved both spinal and epidural anesthesia. Due to pregnancy accompanied physiological changes and the nature of pregnancy itself, a C/S may carry numerous complications range from mild to fatal. Many cases scheduled for normal vaginal delivery may end up with an emergency C/S within a short time due to unanticipated causes. With no underlying medical indications, both maternal and fetal complications rate will increase.[1],[2],[3],[4] Many studies showed the superiority of regional anesthesia compared with general anesthesia. However, the choice of anesthesia might be affected by patients' factors, babies' factors, and clinicians' skills and knowledge. Patients' anxiety and psychological distress may accompany the C/S. Many women are not aware of the procedure itself and the choice of their anesthesia. These mandate the importance of good communication, counseling, support, and education prior C/S.[5],[6] During top emergencies and high-risk patients, the choice and conduction of anesthesia should be carried out by a senior, expert anesthetist. In some world areas, the social factors might have a direct influence on the choice of anesthesia. Inability of patients to understand some events occurring perioperatively will result in poor satisfaction.


  Materials and Methods Top


The study was carried out from December 2016 to February 2017 in Abha and Khamis Mushayt Cities, southwestern region of Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, analytical, comparative design has been conducted. Ethical approval from the Research Ethical Committee of Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region was obtained. Following written informed consent from all patients willing to participate, a total of 170 Saudi and non-Saudi post-C/S women admitted to the postnatal wards or attended the postnatal clinics at Abha Maternity and Children Hospital, Khamis Mushayt Maternity and Children Hospital, and Khamis Mushayt Military Hospital, Saudi Arabia, were included. The researchers have developed a self-administered questionnaire. It comprised personal characteristics, types of anesthesia, satisfaction about anesthesia, and complications during and after the procedure. A pilot study for validation has been conducted in the Medical Services Department for Armed Forces Scientific Research Center as the Arabic version of the questionnaires was given to the participants and then modulated by the research team.

Data entry and analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 21.0, for Windows, 2012, Armonk, N.Y: IBM Corporation). Data were subjected to Chi-square test or one-way ANOVA test for statistical analysis.


  Results Top


A total of 170 women who had recently undergone C/S were enrolled in the study. Most patients were Saudi (93.5%). The mean age of the patients was 30.32 years (±6.19), with the youngest being 19 years old (3 patients) and oldest being 47 years old (2 patients). Forty patients were nulliparous, and the mean for parity was 3.2 births (±2.17). The number of patients having a higher education was 64 (37.7%). The demographic characteristics of the patients are also in [Table 1].
Table 1: General characteristics in population

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The number of patients who had a history of a previous C/S was 105 (61.8%). Of those, 37 (35.2%) underwent the procedure with spinal anesthesia, 64 (61.0%) with general anesthesia, and 4 (3.8%) patients do not know the type of the anesthesia used. However, for the current C/S, 91 patients (53.5%) underwent spinal anesthesia, 73 patients (42.9%) underwent general anesthesia, and 6 patients (3.6%) do not know the anesthesia type used. For these patients, only 62 patients (36.5%) had the option to choose the anesthesia type. Out of those 62 women, 18 (29.0%) based their choice of the anesthesia on recommendations and experience from other patients, 32 (51.6%) followed the recommendations of their physicians, while 12 (19.4%) had their choice based on the internet and other resources [Table 2].
Table 2: Anesthesia type, selection, complications, and satisfaction

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One hundred and five patients were satisfied with the last C/S, with 74 (43.5%) being stated that it was an excellent procedure. However, only 47 patients (27.6%) reported that the last procedure was better than the previous C/S. Only 37 (21.8%) required a blood transfusion during the last C/S.

With regard to complications, 51 patients (30.0%) experienced pain, 43 patients (25.3%) had nausea, 27 patients (15.9%) complained of vomiting, 9 patients (5.3%) had headache, 3 patients (1.8%) experienced deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and 2 patients (1.2%) had urine retentions. Seventy-seven patients (45.3%) thought that the complications were a direct effect from the anesthesia, while 51 patients (30.0%) had thought that the complications are permanent. Only 61 patients (35.9%) reported that consent had been taken for their C/S [Table 3].
Table 3: Experienced complications by the patients

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Sixty-two patients (36.5%) never breastfed their infants after the procedure, 50 patients (29.4%) started breastfeeding within the first 24 h of life, and 58 patients (34.1%) started breastfeeding their infants after the 1st day of life.

Selection of the type of anesthesia did not seem to affect the satisfaction of patients from the procedure (P = 0.719). The urgency of the procedure (i.e., emergent C/S) was not considered a determining factor when it comes to satisfactory experience from the procedure (P = 1.00). As well, the urgency of the procedure did not affect the patient choice of breastfeeding (P = 0.413).

Our data showed that the higher the education level, the more likely women would think that anesthesia is related to complications (P < 0.0001) or that the complications would be permanent (P < 0.0001).


  Discussion Top


C/S is one of the most common surgical procedures that have been carried every day. The rate of complications increases due to the nature of pregnancy, physiological changes, and family stress. These will danger maternal as well as fetal life, especially when there is no medical indication for it. Souza et al., 2010 found a high association between perinatal complications and a nonmedical indication of C/S. This association is stronger in Africa when compared to Asia and Latin America.[1]

Poor communications, fears, missing out, or other emotional factors play a significant role in patient dissatisfaction. Other factors which also distress women are surgical complications and infections. However, anesthesia was the single factor that caused most distress.[7]

Pregnancy has deleterious effects on patients' airway including failed intubation, ventilation, and aspiration. Aspiration incidence in a C/S under general anesthesia is 1 in 400–600. Neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean delivery will minimize these risks compared with general anesthesia. The study revealed that the rate of general anesthesia among patient with previous C/S was found to be higher than spinal anesthesia, 64 (61.0%) and 37 (35.2%) patients, respectively.[8],[9],[10]

The rate of spinal anesthesia was increased during the current C/S. Spinal anesthesia was demonstrated by 91 patients (53.5%) compared with 73 patients (42.9%) of general anesthesia. However, 6 patients (3.6%) do not know the type of anesthesia used. However, this is still far away from the standard of The Royal College of Anesthetists which recommended that 85% of emergency C/Ss should be carried out under regional anesthesia. When regional anesthesia can be effectively feasible within time, this should be pursued due to its fewer detrimental effects on both infant and mother.[11],[12]

Regarding patient satisfaction about the procedure, 74 (43.5%) patients stated it as excellent, 50 (29.4%) as good, and 30 (17%) as fair. Only 14 patients (9.4%) said that it was poor.[13],[14] Comparing the last procedure with the one before, 47 patients (27.6%) stated that the last procedure was better than the previous C/S. Patient satisfaction plays a major role in measuring the quality of health care. One of these parameters is satisfaction with anesthesia. Anesthesia is a stressful event for many patients, especially during C/S.[13],[14] Dharmalingam and Ahmad Zainuddin 2013 during their survey showed a 97% satisfaction about spinal anesthesia during C/S.[5]

Counseling, education, highlighting, and support for the patient will help parturients during the procedure.[13],[14] A total of 62 patients (36.5%) had been counseled about anesthesia and their right to select. Out of them, 18 (29.0%) based their choice of the anesthesia on recommendations and experience from other patients, 32 (51.6%) followed the recommendations of their physicians, and 12 (19.4%) had their choice based on the internet and other sources. Maheshwari et al., 2015 observed that there is a high association between preoperative patients' anxiety and the selection of general anesthesia compared with regional anesthesia. Preoperative anxiety was seen in 72.7% of patients selected general anesthesia (97.18%, n = 71/154) as compared to those selecting regional anesthesia (51.81%, n = 83/154) for elective C/S.[15] In respect to consent for the procedure, only 61 patients (35.9%) stated that they had consent.

Complications of surgery and anesthesia during C/S will be decreased when multidisciplinary team involving obstetricians, anesthetists, pediatricians, midwifes and nurses are followed. Early involvement of senior staff for high-risk cases is highly essential and recommended. Furthermore, following the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia guidelines to ensure standard care for obstetric patients is highly valuable.[16],[17] In our study, 51 patients (30.0%) experienced pain, 43 patients (25.3%) had nausea, 27 patients (15.9%) complained of vomiting, 9 patients (5.3%) had headache, 3 patients (1.8%) experienced DVT, and 2 patients (1.2%) had urine retentions. Seventy-seven patients (45.3%) thought that these complications were a direct effect of the anesthesia, while 51 patients (30.0%) thought that the complications are permanent. It was found that the higher the education level, the more likely women would think that anesthesia is related to complications (P < 0.0001) or the complications would be permanent (P < 0.0001). Only 37 (21.8%) required a blood transfusion.

Sixty-two patients (36.5%) never breastfed their infants after the procedure, 50 patients (29.4%) started breastfeeding within the first 24 h of life, and 58 patients (34.1%) started breastfeeding their infants after the 1st day of life. This is dissimilar to Kumar et al., 2014 when they had found that the women who fed their babies within 4 h of delivery were 86.9%.[6] Delivery by emergency C/S might affect breastfeeding. A percentage of 41% difficulty in breastfeeding was demonstrated by Hobbs et al. during their study of the impact of C/S on breastfeeding.[18]


  Conclusion Top


Maternal and fetal safety is the priority. During C/S, any efforts to increase maternal and fetal safety are highly essential. Utilization of general anesthesia as a technique for C/S was high among parturient. Excellent satisfaction about the procedure and anesthesia was found to be low. Following the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health reports and the Update Practice guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia will absolutely improve safety and care for mothers and babies. Implementation of anesthesia clinic for patients who are booked for elective C/S is recommended. Modes of birth delivery and modalities of anesthesia for C/S should be included in the antenatal program to increase patients' awareness and enhance in decreasing anxiety when an emergency C/S is indicated.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
Souza JP, Gülmezoglu A, Lumbiganon P, Laopaiboon M, Carroli G, Fawole B, et al. Caesarean section without medical indications is associated with an increased risk of adverse short-term maternal outcomes: The 2004-2008 WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health. BMC Med 2010;8:71.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
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Mylonas I, Friese K. Indications for and risks of elective cesarean section. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2015;112:489-95.  Back to cited text no. 2
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3.
Lumbiganon P, Laopaiboon M, Gülmezoglu AM, Souza JP, Taneepanichskul S, Ruyan P, et al. Method of delivery and pregnancy outcomes in Asia: The WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health 2007-08. Lancet 2010;375:490-9.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
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Villar J, Valladares E, Wojdyla D, Zavaleta N, Carroli G, Velazco A, et al. Caesarean delivery rates and pregnancy outcomes: The 2005 WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health in Latin America. Lancet 2006;367:1819-29.  Back to cited text no. 4
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5.
Dharmalingam TK, Ahmad Zainuddin NA. Survey on maternal satisfaction in receiving spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. Malays J Med Sci 2013;20:51-4.  Back to cited text no. 5
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6.
Hemanth Kumar V, Jahagirdar SM, Athiraman UK, Sripriya R, Parthasarathy S, Ravishankar M, et al. Study of patient satisfaction and self-expressed problems after emergency caesarean delivery under subarachnoid block. Indian J Anaesth 2014;58:149-53.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Porter M, van Teijlingen E, Chi Ying Yip L, Bhattacharya S. Satisfaction with cesarean section: Qualitative analysis of open-ended questions in a large postal survey. Birth 2007;34:148-54.  Back to cited text no. 7
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Rollins M, Lucero J. Overview of anesthetic considerations for Cesarean delivery. Br Med Bull 2012;101:105-25.  Back to cited text no. 8
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Rawlinson E, Mincon A. Pulmonary aspiration. Anaesth Intensive Care 2007;8:365-7.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Russell R. Failed intubation in obstetrics: A self-fulfilling prophecy? Int J Obstet Anesth 2007;16:1-3.  Back to cited text no. 10
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11.
Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. Why Mothers Die: Report on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the United Kingdom 2000-2002. London: RCOG Press; 2004.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Bowring J, Fraser N, Vause S, Heazell AE. Is regional anaesthesia better than general anaesthesia for caesarean section? J Obstet Gynaecol 2006;26:433-4.  Back to cited text no. 12
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Fung D, Cohen MM. Measuring patient satisfaction with anesthesia care: A review of current methodology. Anesth Analg 1998;87:1089-98.  Back to cited text no. 13
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14.
Barnett SF, Alagar RK, Grocott MP, Giannaris S, Dick JR, Moonesinghe SR, et al. Patient-satisfaction measures in anesthesia: Qualitative systematic review. Anesthesiology 2013;119:452-78.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
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Maheshwari D, Ismail S. Preoperative anxiety in patients selecting either general or regional anesthesia for elective cesarean section. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol 2015;31:196-200.  Back to cited text no. 15
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American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia. Practice guidelines for obstetric anesthesia: An updated report by the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on Obstetric Anesthesia. Anesthesiology 2007;106:843-63.  Back to cited text no. 16
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Jadon A. Complications of regional and general anaesthesia in obstetric practice. Indian J Anaesth 2010;54:415-20.  Back to cited text no. 17
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Hobbs AJ, Mannion CA, McDonald SW, Brockway M, Tough SC. The impact of caesarean section on breastfeeding initiation, duration and difficulties in the first four months postpartum. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2016;16:90.  Back to cited text no. 18
    



 
 
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