Effects of General Versus Spinal Anesthesia Over Apgar Score of Newborns Delivered by Cesarean Sections and Factors Associated with Apgar Score at Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa

Abstract

Introduction: Apgar score is a practical method of systemically assessing newborn baby immediately after birth to identify those requiring resuscitation and to predict survival in neonatal period. It is best parameter to assess the immediate condition of the baby.

Objective: To assess the effects of general versus spinal anesthesia over Apgar score of newborns delivered by cesarean sections and factors associated with Apgar score from January to March 2016 at Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa.

Method: Institutional based comparative cross sectional study design was conducted. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Regular supervision and follow up was made. Data was entered into Epi info version 7 by investigators and was transported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to identify factors associated with Apgar score.

Result: A total of 86 study subjects were included in the study of which majority of new born baby had low Apgar score at one minute. Out of 43 mothers, who received spinal anesthesia, 15 patients (34.88%) gave birth to neonates having Apgar score >7 at one minute. On the other hand, out of 43 mothers who received general anesthesia, 7(16.3%) mothers gave birth to neonate having Apgar score ≥7at one minute. It had been found that neonates who were born under general anesthesia were three folds more likely to have low Apgar score than the other (AOR 2.768 (95% CI ((.876-8.745).

Conclusion and recommendation: There was relatively a low Apgar score among newborn babies delivered under general anesthesia.  Hence, practice of spinal anesthesia was recommended.