Is regional anaesthesia better than general anaesthesia for caesarean section?

Summary The Royal College of Anaesthetists have set the standard that 85% of emergency caesarean sections should be carried out under regional anaesthesia. Reducing the frequency of caesarean sections carried out under general anaesthesia may serve to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, which has been shown over recent years. A retrospective audit was carried out at a tertiary referral centre investigating the mode of anaesthesia and fetal outcome after emergency caesarean section. The proportion carried out under regional anaesthesia was less than recommended. Despite a longer time taken to induce anaesthesia there was no increase in adverse fetal outcome, supporting the use of regional anaesthesia wherever possible to keep maternal complications to a minimum.