Neonatal Pattern of Breathing Following Cesarean Section

Abstract

The hypothesis that different anesthetic techniques for elective cesarean section would be reflected in the pattern of breathing and its control after birth was tested. The pattern of breathing, including tidal volume, total breath duration (TTOT), minute ventilation, inspiratory (TI) and expiratory times, TI/TTOT ratio, as well as mouth occlusion pressure, was measured in 27 infants delivered by elective cesarean section during maternal epidural (lidocaine-CO2-epinephrine, n = 19) or general anesthesia (66% O2 in N2O and 0.5% halothane, n = 8) at 10, 60 and 90 min and 3-5 days of age. Neonatal acid-base values and Apgar scores were within normal limits in both groups of infants. At any given age the values of the respiratory parameters measured and their variability were similar between the 2 groups of infants. Apparently the pattern of breathing after birth is not different following epidural or general anesthesia, and on the basis of these measurements, both epidural or general anesthesia appeared equally suitable for elective cesarean section.