Patient and clinical characteristics associated with general anesthesia for cesarean delivery at a Texas level IV maternal care center: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of our study was to determine which patient and clinical characteristics were associated with general anesthesia (GA) for cesarean delivery (CD), and the secondary aim was to compare neonatal cord blood gas pH between patients who did and did not have GA for CD.

METHODS: We used a retrospective observational study design. Patients who had CD at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2024, were included in the study. We defined GA as placement of an endotracheal tube or supraglottic airway.

RESULTS: Of 1729 patients who had CD during the study period, 212 (12.3%) received GA. A 1-week increase in gestational age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88 to 0.96; P < 0.001) and emergency indication for CD (aOR 7.97; 95% CI 5.75 to 11.05; P < 0.001) were independently associated with receiving GA. The fetal cord blood gas pH values for patients who did and did not have GA for CD were similar.

CONCLUSION: Emergency indications for CD increased GA, increasing gestational age decreased GA, and there was no difference in fetal cord blood gas pH between patients who did and did not have GA for CD.