Epidural analgesia vs. general anesthesia for cesarean section.

A prospective study based upon interviews included 92 women who had undergone cesarean section, 38% with epidural analgesia and 62% under general anesthesia. The two groups were compared with respect to anesthesiological complications, postoperative morbidity and birth experience. The puerperal period was less complicated after epidural analgesia than after general anesthesia. There was a quicker re-establishment of the gastrointestinal function after epidural analgesia and the patients were more quickly mobilized and less tired. The overall morbidity after cesarean section, 16%, was lower than in other studies. Nearly half of the patients in the epidural experienced slight peroperative pain. In the case of repeated cesarean section, 86% of women who had epidural analgesia wanted the same anesthesia again. On the basis of this study, epidural analgesia is recommended for cesarean section.