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Subject Area

Neurosurgery

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The objective of the study was to compare the effect of spinal and general anesthesia in return of gastrointestinal motility in an elective cesarean section (CS). Background CS is a common major hospital surgical procedure performed nowadays. One of the most common postoperative complications is postoperative gastrointestinal paralysis (ileus) that must be minimized due to its possible serious consequences. Patients and methods One hunderd and forty pregnant women who were admitted for CS and fulfilled the criteria of the study population were enlisted in this prospective, controlled study and were then assigned to either group A or B. Group A included 70 patients for general anesthesia, while group B included 70 patients for spinal anesthesia. Results This study results were shown to have a statistically significant effect of spinal anesthesia versus general anesthesia in terms of shorter mean time interval to normal intestinal sound, passage of flatus, first motion, and discharge from hospital. Also, the study showed beneficial effect of spinal anesthesia versus general anesthesia in terms of less use of opioids, less use of NSAIDs, less incidence of distension, and less incidence of ileus. Conclusion Spinal anesthesia results in a quicker return of bowel activity after a CS, decreased hospital stay, and less use of postoperative opioids than general anesthesia.

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