Compared with general anaesthesia , a central neuraxial block may reduce the zero to 30-day mortality for patients undergoing surgery with intermediate to high cardiac risk ( level of evidence , moderate ) .
BACKGROUND Various beneficial effects derived from neuraxial blocks have been reported .
However , it is unclear whether these effects have an influence on perioperative mortality and major pulmonary/cardiovascular complications .
OBJECTIVES Our primary objective was to summarize Cochrane systematic review s that assess the effects of neuraxial blockade on perioperative rates of death , chest infection and myocardial infa rct ion by integrating the evidence from all such review s that have compared neuraxial blockade with or without general anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia alone for different types of surgery in various population s. Our secondary objective was to summarize the evidence on adverse effects ( an adverse event for which a causal relation between the intervention and the event is at least a reasonable possibility ) of neuraxial blockade .
Comparison of Neonatal Effects of Epidural and General Anesthesia for Cesarean Section
We assessed the influence of anesthetic technique for  cesarean section on neonatal outcome . Thirty parturient women ( ASA I/II ) were r and omly allocated into two groups . In Group GA general anesthesia was induced with 4 mg·kg–1 thiopental and 1.5 mg·kg–1 succinylcholine . In group EA epidural anesthesia was performed with 20 ml 0.375 % bupivacaine through L3–4 inter-space  . 1-min Apgar scores were significantly higher in group EA ( p < 0.001 ) . Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity scores at 2 and 24 h were higher in group EA ( p < 0.001 ) . In terms of blood gas values , umbilical arterial pH and pO2 values were higher in group EA ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 , respectively ) . The first breast-feeding intervals were found to be shorter in group EA ( p < 0.001 ) . We conclude that in terms of better Apgar and NAC scores , acid-base status and earlier initiation of breast-feeding , the epidural anesthesia may be preferred to general anesthesia in cesarean section
Compared with general anaesthesia , a central neuraxial block may reduce the zero to 30-day mortality for patients undergoing surgery with intermediate to high cardiac risk ( level of evidence , moderate ) .
BACKGROUND Various beneficial effects derived from neuraxial blocks have been reported .
However , it is unclear whether these effects have an influence on perioperative mortality and major pulmonary/cardiovascular complications .
OBJECTIVES Our primary objective was to summarize Cochrane systematic review s that assess the effects of neuraxial blockade on perioperative rates of death , chest infection and myocardial infa rct ion by integrating the evidence from all such review s that have compared neuraxial blockade with or without general anaesthesia versus general anaesthesia alone for different types of surgery in various population s. Our secondary objective was to summarize the evidence on adverse effects ( an adverse event for which a causal relation between the intervention and the event is at least a reasonable possibility ) of neuraxial blockade .