Research Articles

Factors associated with failed spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean sections in Mthatha general hospital, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Adeyinka Abiodun Alabi, Oladele Vincent Adeniyi, Olukayode Ademola Adeleke, Pamela Pilla, Mohamed Rashid Haffajee
South African Family Practice | Vol 59, No 4 : July/August| a4737 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v59i4.4737 | ©
Submitted: 28 August 2017 | Published:

About the author(s)

Adeyinka Abiodun Alabi, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa
Oladele Vincent Adeniyi, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa
Olukayode Ademola Adeleke, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa
Pamela Pilla, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Mohamed Rashid Haffajee, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Full Text:

PDF (184KB)

Abstract

Background: The use of spinal anaesthesia has increased in the last three decades, given that it is the recommended anaesthetic of choice for better foetal and maternal outcomes in Caesarean section. Failed spinal anaesthesia (FSA) exposes patients to unfavourable experience of pain and the potential complications of general anaesthesia that are being avoided in the first instance. This study determines the incidence and the predictors of failed spinal anaesthesia in pregnant women presenting for Caesarean section at Mthatha General Hospital, Eastern Cape.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 197 pregnant women scheduled for Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia at Mthatha General Hospital from May 1 to August 30, 2013. A standard proforma was utilised for data collection on items of demographic, surgical and anaesthetic records of each parturient. The main outcome measure was the incidence of failed spinal anaesthesia (defined as partial or incomplete spinal block requiring conversion to general anaesthesia).

Results: The incidence of failed spinal anaesthesia was 11.7%, which was slightly higher in emergency Caesarean sections. In univariate analysis, previous anaesthesia, obesity, dry tap of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), bloody CSF and duration of work experience less than one year were significantly associated with FSA in the cohort.

Conclusion: The study found a high incidence of failed spinal anaesthesia during Caesarean section in this setting. Upskilling of doctors in spinal anaesthesia is urgently needed in the study setting.

(Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp)

S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2017.1292696

Keywords

blocked height; bloody CSF; Caesarean section; spinal anaesthesia failure; South Africa

Metrics

Total abstract views: 1712
Total article views: 698


Crossref Citations

No related citations found.