General anesthesia safe for C-sections, study finds.
New study suggests general anesthesia is safe for C-sections when other methods fail.
Why it matters
- Provides evidence that general anesthesia is a safe alternative for C-sections.
- Can reassure patients and clinicians about the safety of general anesthesia.
By the numbers
- Meta-analysis of 36 trials and 3,456 newborns.
- Differences in one-minute Apgar scores disappear by five minutes.
The big picture
- Offers an alternative when spinal or epidural blocks fail.
- Highlights the need for better pain management options during C-sections.
What they're saying
- Personal anecdotes emphasize the emotional impact of painful C-sections.
Caveats
- Included studies had high or unclear risk of bias.
- High heterogeneity in Apgar score data.
What’s next
- Need for new, methodologically sound trials focusing on long-term neonatal health.