Induction opioids for caesarean section under general anaesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Comparison of intrathecal fentanyl as an adjunct in spinal anaesthesia to ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block as an effective postoperative analgesia for Caesarean section surgery

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain in patients, if dealt with inadequately, has been a significant cause of morbidity. The present study compared the postoperative analgesic efficacy of intrathecal fentanyl and ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block following Caesarean surgery.

METHODS

A prospective randomised controlled study was planned for parturients who underwent Caesarean surgery under spinal anaesthesia. Patients received bupivacaine (10mg) and 25µg of intrathecal fentanyl in the spinal anaesthesia (group intrathecal fentanyl, n = 30) or 20mL of 0.375% ropivacaine bilateral quadratus lumborum block (group quadratus lumborum; n = 30) after surgery. The visual analogue scale score, quality of recovery-15 score and incidence of ill effects were recorded.

RESULTS

The postoperative haemodynamic parameters were comparable between the two groups. The visual analogue scale score at different time intervals decreased after the quadratus lumborum block (p < 0.05). The mean global quality of recovery score was better in the quadratus lumborum group (p < 0.001). In the quadratus lumborum group, the mean time to first ambulation was lower than that in the intrathecal fentanyl group (p < 0.05). The requirement for first-rescue analgesia was earlier in the intrathecal fentanyl group (4.67 ± 0.72) than in the quadratus lumborum group (4.92 ± 0.88).

CONCLUSION

Intrathecal fentanyl and quadratus lumborum block had effective postoperative analgesic effects on Caesarean surgery patients. However, the quadratus lumborum block group exhibited better analgesia and early ambulation than the intrathecal fentanyl group, with an improved quality of recovery.

The role of supraglottic airway devices for caesarean section under general anaesthesia. A scoping literature review with a proposed algorithm for the appropriate use of supraglottic airway devices for caesarean sections

This review aims to assess the published evidence on airway management with a supraglottic airway device (SGA) for general anaesthesia in patients requiring a caesarean section. Physiological changes during pregnancy can make airway management in parturients challenging. At the same time, pregnant patients are at risk of pulmonary aspiration due to hormonal and mechanical alterations. The standard airway management for parturients undergoing caesarean section is rapid sequence induction followed by tracheal intubation. Evidence exists that using second-generation SGA devices is well tolerated and effective in selected patients. In this review, we provide an overview of the existing evidence and provide an algorithm to make an evidence-based clinical decision on the use of SGA devices. An online literature search was performed in Medline, Embase, PubMed, Emcare, Cochrane Library and CINAHL. The search terms used were 'supraglottic airway', 'supraglottic airway device', 'supraglottic airway management', 'supraglottic tube', 'i-gel', laryngeal mask', 'laryngeal mask airway', 'LMA', 'SGA', 'Proseal', 'Supreme', 'obstetric surgery', 'obstetric operation', 'general anaesthesia', 'caesarean' or 'caesarean section', 'abdominal delivery'. Full-text articles in English, Dutch and French were included. Case reports and studies in which the surgery was not a caesarean section were excluded. The initial search yielded 815 results. Following screening, deduplication and removal of publications that were unrelated to the topic or did not fit the inclusion criteria, 13 manuscripts were included in our analysis. A total of 7722 patients were described in the articles included. In the majority of manuscripts, second-generation SGA devices were used. There were seven cases of failed insertion and a need for conversion to tracheal intubation; first-generation SGA devices were used in these cases. There were no cases of pulmonary aspiration, and only one case of gastric regurgitation was described. Growing evidence suggests that the use of second-generation SGA devices might be well tolerated as the primary method for securing the airway for caesarean sections requiring general anaesthesia, in selected patients with a low risk for aspiration and difficult intubation.

Anesthetic management for cesarean section in two parturient with ascending aortic aneurysm: a case-based discussion

BACKGROUND

The anesthetic management of parturients with ascending aortic aneurysm for cesarean section can be particularly challenging, primarily because of increased risk for aortic dissection or aneurysm rupture.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present some aspects of the anesthetic management of two parturients with ascending aortic aneurysm for cesarean sections; amongst, the use of remifentanil with its effects on patient and newborn. We emphasize the importance of a cardio-obstetric team in the context of preoperative planning of such patients. Also, we reviewed some literature on the anesthetic management with its effect on peri-operative hemodynamic stability.

CONCLUSION

Maintaining hemodynamic stability is paramount in the prevention of the rupture or dissection of ascending aortic aneurysm during labor of parturient.

Intracranial arachnoid cyst in pregnancy: case report, literature review and evaluation of neuraxial anaesthesia risk

Choosing the type of intrapartum anaesthesia for pregnant women with intracranial arachnoid cysts can be challenging due to a lack of research. We report the intrapartum anaesthetic management of a 25-year-old woman with a known 10 cm arachnoid cyst. By means of a literature review and discussion of safety surrounding neuraxial techniques, this report will help to inform obstetric anaesthesia practice. Overall, in the absence of raised intracranial pressure, neuraxial analgesia and anaesthesia during the intrapartum period appears to be a safe option.

Low-Dose Remifentanil in Preterm Cesarean Section with General Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The conventional technique of general anesthesia induction during a Cesarean section involves the use of opioids only after cord clamping. We hypothesized that the use of remifentanil before cord clamping might reduce the use of maternal supplemental anesthetic agents and improve the maternal hemodynamics status and neonatal adaptation of the preterm neonate.

METHODS

A phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, hospital-based trial enrolled parturients undergoing a Cesarean section under general anesthesia before 37 weeks of gestation. Block randomization allocated pregnant women to remifentanil or placebo. The primary outcome was the rate of newborns with Apgar scores < 7 at 5 min. Secondary outcomes were maternal hemodynamic parameters, complications of anesthetic induction, use of adjuvant anesthetic agents, neonatal respiratory distress, umbilical cord pH, and lactate levels.

RESULTS

A total of 52/55 participants were analyzed, comprising 27 women in the remifentanil group and 25 in the placebo group. Nine of 27 (33.3%) neonates had an Apgar score < 7 at 5 min in the remifentanil group versus 11/25 (44.0%) in the placebo group (p = 0.45, odds ratio = 0.66, 95 confidence interval 0.20-2.18). The blood cord gases, cognitive, behavior, sensory, sleeping, and feeding scores at 1 and 2 years of corrected age were not different. For the mothers, hemodynamic parameters, anesthesia duration, and the cumulative treatment dose until cord clamping did not differ between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a low dose of remifentanil before cord clamping for a Cesarean section appears to be safe both for the mother and the preterm newborn, but it does not improve maternal or neonatal outcomes.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02029898.

Anesthetic drug concentrations and placental transfer rate in fetus between term and preterm infants, twins, and singletons

Objective: This study aims to determine the drug concentration of etomidate, remifentanil, and rocuronium bromide for general anesthesia in fetus as well as the placental transport rate between term and preterm delivery, twins, and singleton. Study design: Sixty parturients with 72 fetuses undergoing cesarean section under general anesthesia were included. According to whether the fetus was a twin or premature, parturients were divided into Group I (term singleton), Group II (premature singleton), Group III (term twins), and Group IV (premature twins). The preoperative demographic characteristics and laboratory examination of parturients, hemodynamic indicators, the Apgar score of neonates at 1, 5, and 10 min after delivery and at specific assigned values, umbilical artery blood gas analysis results, neonatal weight, and resuscitative measures were recorded. Anesthetic drug concentrations in maternal arterial (MA), umbilical arterial (UA), and umbilical venous (UV) blood were detected by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Result: No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of etomidate, remifentanil, and rocuronium bromide in MA, UV, and UA blood, or in the UV/MA and UA/UV ratios between term and preterm infants, twins, and singletons. Moreover, there was no variation in the anesthetic drug concentration among each pair of twins. Additionally, no correlation was found between the neonatal weight and the plasma concentrations of anesthetic drugs in UV and UA blood, except for remifentanil in UA blood. Conclusion: Preterm or twin deliveries do not affect the neonatal concentration of etomidate, remifentanil, and rocuronium bromide used in general anesthesia for cesarean sections. Clinical Trial Registration: www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2100046547.

Prolonged Anesthesia Induction to Delivery Time Did Not Influence Plasma Remifentanil Concentration in Neonates

Objective

Remifentanil, in combination with etomidate and sevoflurane, is commonly used in clinics for general anesthesia induction in cesarean section (CS). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the induction to delivery (I-D) time and neonatal plasma drug concentration and anesthesia, as well as its effects on neonates.

Methods

Fifty-two parturients in whom general anesthesia was induced for CS were divided into group A (I-D<8 min) and group B (I-D≥8 min). Maternal arterial (MA), umbilical venous (UV), and umbilical arterial (UA) blood samples were collected at delivery to analyze the remifentanil and etomidate concentrations using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of plasma concentrations of remifentanil in the MA, UA, and UV blood (P > 0.05). The plasma concentration of etomidate in MA and UV was higher in group A than that in group B (P<0.05), whereas the UA/UV ratio of etomidate was higher in group B than that in group A (P<0.05). The Spearman rank correlation test showed no correlation between the I-D time and plasma remifentanil concentration in the MA, UA, and UV plasma (P>0.05). The concentrations of etomidate in the MA and UV were negatively correlated with the I-D time (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Prolonged I-D time did not significantly influence the maternal or neonatal plasma concentration of remifentanil. It is safe to administer remifentanil target-controlled infusion in combination with etomidate and sevoflurane for general anesthesia induction during CS.

Analgesic effect of butorphanol tartrate combined with hydromorphone on patients with cesarean section: A prospective cohort study

To evaluate the analgesic effect of butorphanol tartrate combined with hydromorphone on the patients with cesarean section, we conducted a prospective cohort study. A total of 90 patients were given patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with hydromorphone for 24 hours after the cesarean section. After stopping PCIA, they were divided into 2 groups randomly. The cases treated with butorphanol tartrate intravenous drip were evaluated as the butorphanol group (n = 45) and the cases treated with saline were evaluated as the control group (n = 45). We compared the vital signs, analgesic effect, adverse reactions, the bladder and gastrointestinal function recovery, and neonatal jaundice between the 2 groups. The visual analog score in butorphanol group was significantly lower than that of control group at 3 and 4 hours after stopping PCIA (P < .05), but there was no significant difference in visual analog score at 6 and 12 hours after stopping PCIA. The first time of getting out of bed and urination in butorphanol group was significantly later than that in control group while there was no significant difference in the first anal ventilation and the neonatal jaundice index between the 2 groups. We should pay attention to the pain of patients with cesarean section after stopping PCIA. The combination of butorphanol tartrate and hydromorphone play a good effect to relieve the pain while nursing care should be strengthened to urge patients to take early activities to reduce the occurrence of urinary retention.

Are opioids safe for use in obstetric general anaesthesia?

The use of opioids during caesarean section has historically been avoided because of concerns regarding neonatal compromise. There is now more evidence regarding the safety and benefits of opioids in obstetric general anaesthesia, so should opioids be used during induction of anaesthesia for caesarean section?

Emergencies in obstetric anaesthesia: a narrative review

We conducted a narrative review in six areas of obstetric emergencies: category-1 caesarean section; difficult and failed airway; massive obstetric haemorrhage; hypertensive crisis; emergencies related to neuraxial anaesthesia; and maternal cardiac arrest. These areas represent significant research published within the last five years, with emphasis on large multicentre randomised trials, national or international practice guidelines and recommendations from major professional societies. Key topics discussed: prevention and management of failed neuraxial technique; role of high-flow nasal oxygenation and choice of neuromuscular drug in obstetric patients; prevention of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia; management of the difficult and failed obstetric airway; current perspectives on the use of tranexamic acid, fibrinogen concentrate and cell salvage; guidance on neuraxial placement in a thrombocytopenic obstetric patient; management of neuraxial drug errors, local anaesthetic systemic toxicity and unusually prolonged neuraxial block regression; and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use in maternal cardiac arrest.

Neuraxial and general anaesthesia for caesarean section

Caesarean section (CS) is one of the most performed operations worldwide. In many parts of the world, there has been a reduction in anaesthetic associated obstetric mortality, and this has been attributed to the increased use of neuraxial anaesthesia and improved safety of general anaesthesia, alongside improved training and organisational changes. In resource-limited countries, anaesthesia contributes disproportionately to maternal mortality, with one in seven deaths being due to anaesthesia. A major contributory factor to this is the severe shortage of trained anaesthetic providers. Goals for anaesthesia for CS include the woman's comfort and foetal well-being, focusing on strategies to minimise morbidity and mortality for both. Anaesthetic options for CS include neuraxial techniques (spinal or combined-spinal epidural or epidural extension of labour analgesia) and general anaesthesia. There is increasing evidence of the benefit of neuraxial techniques over general anaesthesia in terms of maternal and foetal outcomes. For elective CS, spinal and combined-spinal anaesthesia predominate. General anaesthesia is mainly reserved for Category 1 CS where there is an immediate threat to the life of the mother or the baby. This review discusses the practical aspects of neuraxial and general anaesthesia for CS.

Perioperative management of emergent cesarean section in a patient with peripartum cardiomyopathy and orthopnea: a case report

Perioperative management of pregnant women with heart failure is difficult. Management of anesthesia in pregnant women is especially difficult because all of the currently available choices present challenges. We report a patient with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) who required an emergent cesarean section and discuss the possible tactics for managing anesthesia. A 40-year-old primipara with severe cardiac and respiratory failure required an emergent cesarean section at 39⁺¹ gestational weeks. Her left ventricular ejection fraction was between 10% and 15%, and she had orthopnea. General anesthesia was planned after inserting sheaths for percutaneous cardiopulmonary support from the femoral artery and vein. However, when the patient was asked to lie down on the operation bed, she panicked and resisted because of labor pain and dyspnea. Therefore, anesthesia was induced instead of the initial plan. Finally, we successfully managed the anesthesia and delivered the newborn. There are no alternatives to general anesthesia in patients with PPCM presenting with orthopnea. Anesthesia induction in the supine position is impossible in such patients owing to dyspnea. Anesthesia should be started with light sedation in the sitting position, and ketamine or low-dose remifentanil may be an option to maintain maternal hemodynamics and prevent neonatal asphyxia.

Neonatal and early childhood outcomes following maternal anesthesia for cesarean section: a population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

The fetus is vulnerable to maternal drug exposure. We determined associations of exposure to spinal, epidural, or general anesthesia on neonatal and childhood development outcomes during the first 1000 days of life.

METHODS

Population-based study of all singleton, cesarean livebirths of 24+0 to 43+6 weeks gestation between January 2007 and December 2016 in Scotland, stratified by urgency with follow-up to age 2 years. Models were adjusted for: maternal age, weight, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, smoking, drug-use, induction, parity, previous cesarean or abortion, pre-eclampsia, gestation, birth weight, and sex.

RESULTS

140 866 mothers underwent cesarean section (41.2% (57,971/140,866) elective, 58.8% (82,895/140,866) emergency) with general anesthesia used in 3.2% (1877/57,971) elective and 9.8% (8158/82,895) of emergency cases. In elective cases, general anesthesia versus spinal was associated with: neonatal resuscitation (crude event rate 16.2% vs 1.9% (adjusted RR 8.20, 95% CI 7.20 to 9.33), Apgar <7 at 5 min (4.6% vs 0.4% (adjRR 11.44, 95% CI 8.88 to 14.75)), and neonatal admission (8.6% vs 4.9% (adjRR 1.65, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.94)). Associations were similar in emergencies; resuscitation (32.2% vs 12.3% (adjRR 2.40, 95% CI 2.30 to 2.50)), Apgar <7 (12.6% vs 2.8% (adjRR 3.87, 95% CI 3.56 to 4.20), and admission (31.6% vs 19.9% (adjRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.25). There was a weak association between general anesthesia in emergency cases and having ≥1 concern noted in developmental assessment at 2 years (21.0% vs 16.5% (adjRR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16)).

CONCLUSIONS

General anesthesia for cesarean section, irrespective of urgency, is associated with neonatal resuscitation, low Apgar, and neonatal unit admission. Associations were strongest in non-urgent cases and at term. Further evaluation of long-term outcomes is warranted.

Incidence of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia in obstetrics: a multicentre, prospective cohort study

General anaesthesia for obstetric surgery has distinct characteristics that may contribute towards a higher risk of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, experience and psychological implications of unintended conscious awareness during general anaesthesia in obstetric patients. From May 2017 to August 2018, 3115 consenting patients receiving general anaesthesia for obstetric surgery in 72 hospitals in England were recruited to the study. Patients received three repetitions of standardised questioning over 30 days, with responses indicating memories during general anaesthesia that were verified using interviews and record interrogation. A total of 12 patients had certain/probable or possible awareness, an incidence of 1 in 256 (95%CI 149-500) for all obstetric surgery. The incidence was 1 in 212 (95%CI 122-417) for caesarean section surgery. Distressing experiences were reported by seven (58.3%) patients, paralysis by five (41.7%) and paralysis with pain by two (16.7%). Accidental awareness occurred during induction and emergence in nine (75%) of the patients who reported awareness. Factors associated with accidental awareness during general anaesthesia were: high BMI (25-30 kg.m^-2 ); low BMI (<18.5 kg.m^-2 ); out-of-hours surgery; and use of ketamine or thiopental for induction. Standardised psychological impact scores at 30 days were significantly higher in awareness patients (median (IQR [range]) 15 (2.7-52.0 [2-56]) than in patients without awareness 3 (1-9 [0-64]), p = 0.010. Four patients had a provisional diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. We conclude that direct postoperative questioning reveals high rates of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia for obstetric surgery, which has implications for anaesthetic practice, consent and follow-up.

Comparison of Supraglottic Airway Devices With Endotracheal Intubation in Low-Risk Patients for Cesarean Delivery: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The safety and adverse event rate of supraglottic airway (SGA) devices for cesarean delivery (CD) is poorly characterized. The primary aims of this review were to determine whether the first-pass success was higher and time to insertion for SGA was faster than endotracheal intubation for elective CD. The secondary aim was to determine the airway-related adverse event rate associated with SGA use compared to endotracheal intubation in elective CD under general anesthesia (GA).

METHODS

Six databases were systematically searched until September 2019. Included studies reported on the use of SGA in comparison to endotracheal tube intubation. A comparative meta-analysis between SGA and endotracheal intubation was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Dichotomous outcomes were reported using an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The results for continuous outcomes were reported using a weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies with 2236 patients compared SGA and endotracheal intubation. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in first-attempt success rate (OR = 1.92; 95% CI, 0.85-4.32; I = 0%; P = .44). There was no clinically significant difference in time to insertion (WMD = -15.80 seconds; 95% CI, -25.30 to -6.31 seconds; I= 100%; P = .001). Similarly, there was no difference in any adverse event rate except sore throat which was reduced with the use of an SGA (OR = 0.16; 95% CI, 0.08-0.32; I= 53%; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the reasonable insertion success rate and safety profile of SGAs demonstrated in this meta-analysis, the analysis remains underpowered and therefore inconclusive. At present, further studies are required before the use of an SGA as the first-line airway for an elective CD can be recommended.

General anaesthetic and airway management practice for obstetric surgery in England: a prospective, multicentre observational study

There are no current descriptions of general anaesthesia characteristics for obstetric surgery, despite recent changes to patient baseline characteristics and airway management guidelines. This analysis of data from the direct reporting of awareness in maternity patients' (DREAMY) study of accidental awareness during obstetric anaesthesia aimed to describe practice for obstetric general anaesthesia in England and compare with earlier surveys and best-practice recommendations. Consenting patients who received general anaesthesia for obstetric surgery in 72 hospitals from May 2017 to August 2018 were included. Baseline characteristics, airway management, anaesthetic techniques and major complications were collected. Descriptive analysis, binary logistic regression modelling and comparisons with earlier data were conducted. Data were collected from 3117 procedures, including 2554 (81.9%) caesarean deliveries. Thiopental was the induction drug in 1649 (52.9%) patients, compared with propofol in 1419 (45.5%). Suxamethonium was the neuromuscular blocking drug for tracheal intubation in 2631 (86.1%), compared with rocuronium in 367 (11.8%). Difficult tracheal intubation was reported in 1 in 19 (95%CI 1 in 16-22) and failed intubation in 1 in 312 (95%CI 1 in 169-667). Obese patients were over-represented compared with national baselines and associated with difficult, but not failed intubation. There was more evidence of change in practice for induction drugs (increased use of propofol) than neuromuscular blocking drugs (suxamethonium remains the most popular). There was evidence of improvement in practice, with increased monitoring and reversal of neuromuscular blockade (although this remains suboptimal). Despite a high risk of difficult intubation in this population, videolaryngoscopy was rarely used (1.9%).

Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant for single spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section: a system review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies reported the effect of dexmedetomidine on intrathecal anesthesia. In this review, we explored the impact of dexmedetomidine as an adjunct for lumbar anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section.

METHODS

Two authors searched eligible random controlled trials in electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese BioMedical database, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, and the Wanfang database.

RESULTS

Ten trials comprising 970 patients were included in this review. Intrathecal dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the onset time of sensory block (standardized mean difference (SMD), -1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.15, -0.85, I² = 92%) and motor block (SMD -0.77, 95% CI -1.50, -0.49, I² = 60%) and prolonged the block duration time (sensory block: SMD 2.02, 95% CI 1.29, 2.74, I² = 93%; motor block: SMD 1.90, 95% CI 1.07, 2.74, I² = 94%). Patients who received dexmedetomidine showed a lower incidence of shivering. No significant difference was reported for the neonatal Apgar score and other complications.

CONCLUSION

The use of intrathecal dexmedetomidine during cesarean section can shorten the onset time of spinal anesthesia and enhance the effect of local anesthetic. It has no significant impact on neonates and there were no other adverse events.

Effects of dexmedetomidine versus remifentanil on mothers and neonates during cesarean section under general anesthesia

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Dexmedetomidine and remifentanil use in obstetric general anesthesia is controversial. This study aimed to compare the effects of remifentanil and dexmedetomidine on mothers and neonates during cesarean section under general anesthesia.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients scheduled for elective cesarean section under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to dexmedetomidine (D), remifentanil (R), and control (C) groups. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and muscle relaxants in all groups. Anesthesia in groups D and R was induced with dexmedetomidine (induction, 0.5 µg/kg; maintenance, 0.5 µg/kg.h) and remifentanil (induction, 0.5 µg/kg; maintenance, 2 µg/kg.h), respectively, until birth. Group C received equivalent volumes of normal saline. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), plasma catecholamine, visual analog pain score (VAS), and total tramadol consumption at 1, 2, and 3 hours after extubation were recorded. Neonatal effects were assessed by Apgar scores and umbilical blood gas analysis.

RESULTS

Post induction, MAP was significantly higher in group D compared to groups C and R, and significantly lower in group R than in group C. At intubation/skin incision and delivery, MAP, HR, and plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations were significantly lower in groups D and R than in group C. Compared to group R, MAP was significantly higher, and HR, plasma epinephrine, and norepinephrine concentrations were significantly lower in group D. Compared with groups C and D, the percentage of neonates with Apgar score < 7 was higher in group R at 1 min after delivery. Compared with groups C and R, the VAS was significantly lower in group D at 1 and 2 h postoperatively. Total tramadol consumption was significantly lower in group D at 3 hours postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

During general anesthesia for cesarean section, remifentanil demonstrated better control of hemodynamic stability, while dexmedetomidine demonstrated better neonatal Apgar scores, postoperative analgesia, and decreased catecholamine release.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR) - ChiCTR1800017125.