Category‐1 caesarean section: a survey of anaesthetic and peri‐operative management in the UK* |
| |
| Authors: | S M Kinsella B Walton R Sashidharan T Draycott |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Consultant anaesthetist, St Michael’s Hospital, Bristol, UK;2. Consultant anaesthetist, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK;3. Consultant anaesthetist, Royal London Hospital, London, UK (deceased);4. Consultant obstetrician, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK |
| |
| Abstract: | A national survey of anaesthetic and peri‐operative management of category‐1 caesarean section was sent to 245 consultant‐led maternity units. There was a 70% response rate. The median (IQR range]) general anaesthetic rate was 51% (29%–80% 6%–100%]), 12% (9%–16% 3%–93%]), 4% (2%–5% <1%–18%]), for category‐1 caesarean section, categories 1–3 (non‐elective/emergency) and category‐4 (elective) caesarean section, respectively. The main operating theatre for caesarean section is on the delivery suite in 151 (88%) units, and 112 (66%) units also have a second theatre in the same location. One hundred and thirty‐nine (81%) use the standard urgency classification described in the NICE caesarean section guideline. However, only 72 (42%), 24 (14%), and 16 (9%) units comply with this guideline’s recommended decision‐delivery intervals for category‐1 (≤ 30 min), category‐2 (≤ 30 min) and category‐3 (≤ 75 min) caesarean sections, respectively. Practice in the smaller units was similar to that in the larger units, although there was less availability of a dedicated anaesthetist, intra‐uterine resuscitation guidelines and operating theatres on the delivery suite in the smaller units. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
