A Changing Trend in Obstetric Anesthesia; Four Year Report

Abstract

During the period from 1957 through 1960, a definite change was noted in the type of anesthetic requested by obstetricians at Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Illinois. Regional anesthetics were still the most frequently employed; however, the single-injection caudal was used more often than the low spinal anesthetic. Use of the low spinal block has decreased due to difficulty in managing postspinal headache, the occasional firm, prolonged contraction after administration of the anesthetic, and the great acceptance of the caudal anesthetic by both patients and obstetricians.

During this study, the number of cases in which general, local or no anesthetic was used remained about the same.