• H A Adams, J Biscoping, P Baumann, A Börgmann, and G Hempelmann.
• Abteilung für Anaesthesiologie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen.
• Reg Anaesth. 1989 Sep 1;12(5):87-94.

AbstractThis study compared maternal and fetal stress responses during cesarean section in either general anesthesia (GA) or epidural anesthesia (EA). Ten patients received GA with thiopental induction, intubation, and controlled ventilation with nitrous oxide and oxygen. After delivery, anesthesia was supplemented with fentanyl 0.2-0.3 mg. Ten patients received EA via catheter, using bupivacaine 0.5%, and prilocaine or lidocaine 1%. Maternal mean arterial pressure (MAP), HR, and plasma concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine (by HPLC/ECD), ADH, ACTH and cortisol (by RIA) were determined before and after induction, after delivery, at the end of the operation and 30 minutes postoperatively. Fetal catecholamine levels in umbilical artery blood were measured immediately after delivery. In addition, fetal blood gas analyses and Apgar scores were compared. Fetal epinephrine was slightly increased in the EA group (EA 132 pg/ml, GA 52 pg/ml). Norepinephrine was similar in both groups (EA 1.218 pg/ml, GA 1.124 pg/ml). Blood gas analyses and Apgar scores were also comparable. A negative correlation was found between norepinephrine and pH values in fetal umbilical artery blood (P = 0.01). Maternal epinephrine levels were lower under EA and below the normal range (EA 23 pg/ml, GA 77 pg/ml, P = 0.002); levels increased during GA and decreased during EA (P = 0.01). No statistical differences were seen in maternal norepinephrine (EA 206 pg/ml, GA 354 pg/ml). MAP was lower during EA (group levels EA 81 mmHg, GA 95 mmHg, P = 0.0002) and HR was higher during GA (group levels EA 89/min, GA 104/min, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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