• Roy Kessous, Adi Y Weintraub, Arnon Wiznitzer, Alexander Zlotnik, Gali Pariente, Hana Polachek, Fernanda Press, Barak Aricha-Tamir, Adi Leizerovich, and Eyal Sheiner.
• Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. kessousr@bgu.ac.il
• Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 2012 Jul 1;286(1):75-9.

ObjectiveTo compare postoperative pain perception and analgesia requirements in patients undergoing cesarean section (CS) using general versus spinal anesthesia.Study DesignA prospective, observational study of patients undergoing elective CS during 2009 under either general or spinal anesthesia. Postoperative pain intensity and analgesia requirements were evaluated for up to 48 h after surgery.ResultsA total of 153 women were enrolled; 77 received general and 76 received regional anesthesia. Postoperative meperidine requirements in the first 24 h were significantly higher in the general anesthesia group. Pain scores were mostly comparable between the groups. Nevertheless, lower pain scores were graded after 8 h in the general versus the spinal anesthesia and this reversed at 48 h.ConclusionSpinal anesthesia is comparable to general anesthesia in terms of post-operative pain control. In choosing the type of anesthesia in CS, other factors such as the urgency and potential maternal and fetal hazards should be taken into account.

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