Revista N. 62 - Clube de Anestesia Regional

58
Maternal satisfaction after cesarean section
anaesthesia: balance between epidural
and subarachnoid block
Introduction
Francisco Maio Matos 1 , Andrea Gomes 2 , Ana Eufrásio 1 , Claúdia Alves 1 , Joana Carvalhas 1
1. Anaesthesiology Department, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra; 2. Obstetrics, Maternidade Daniel de Matos, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The level of maternal satisfaction has become a way of assessing and improving the quality of the Obstetric units 1, 2, 3, 4 . The purpose of this study was to
compare the level of maternal satisfaction among pregnant women undergoing cesarean section after epidural and spinal anaesthesia.
Methods: Satisfaction was assessed by psychometric, quantitative and multidimensional questionnaire, (26 items grouped into 6 dimensions) internal validity already
demonstrated, conducted by telephone after verbal consent. We studied 32 healthy parturients who underwent cesarean delivery with neuraxial anaesthesia (epidural,
n = 16; subarachnoid block, n = 16). Each response was inserted on a Likert scale of 5 points. Dimensions of greater influence on maternal satisfaction of both groups
were identified.
Results: The studied groups were socio-demographically homogeneous. The rate of maternal satisfaction in the group with epidural anaesthesia (satisfaction = 0 minimum,
maximum satisfaction = 104) was 90.4 ± 8.1 (mean ± standard deviation) and 91.2 ± 9.1 (mean ± standard deviation) in the subarachnoid block group. There was no
significant difference in maternal satisfaction (p = 0.49) between groups. The intra-operative was greatest impact dimension on maternal satisfaction in both groups.
Conclusions: There was no difference in maternal satisfaction between the groups in the studied sample. Further studies are needed to confirm these results.
Keywords: Maternal satisfaction, cesarean section, epidural anaesthesia, spinal anaesthesia.
The neuraxial anaesthesia for cesarean
section (subarachnoid or epidural block)
is the option with less risk and greater
benefit to the mother and fetus 5 .
The introduction of non-cutting needles for
subarachnoid block decreased the incidence
of headache after puncture of the dura,
contributing to the preference given to this
anaesthetic technique 6 . This is a simple technique,
with rapid anaesthetic onset, good lock
quality and reduced risk of toxicity. However,
this block is associated with increased risk
of hypotension requiring treatment, and
does not allow supplemental anaesthetic for
insufficient block 7 .
The epidural block allows the titration of local
anaesthetic according to the sensory-motor level
and provides greater hemodynamic stability.
However, the implementation of this anaesthetic
technique is more complex, resulting in more
inadequate block has a slow anaesthetic onset
and requires larger doses of local anaesthetics -
increases the risk due to possible intravascular or
intratecal administration 7 .
According to the literature, there is no
significant difference in the necessity of
conversion to general anaesthesia, analgesic
supplementation or neonatal intervention,
after the epidural or spinal block 7 .
In the last decade, maternal satisfaction became
important as a mean of evaluation and study of
the quality in obstetric units 1, 2, 3, 4 . The relevance
of this approach, focusing on maternal experience
for the selection of anaesthetic technique is
controversial 8, 9, 10,11 . In Portugal, there are no
quantitative published methods that allow an
estimation of maternal satisfaction associated to
the different anaesthetic techniques.
The purpose of this study was to compare the
level of maternal satisfaction among pregnant
women undergoing cesarean section after
epidural and spinal anaesthesia.
Methods
A psychometric, quantitative and multidimensional
questionnaire with 26 items was
developed to assess maternal satisfaction in
6 dimensions: (1) expectation (2) interaction
with the family and medical team (3)
anaesthetic technique (4) intraoperative (5)
postoperative (6) adverse events - Figure
1. The overall maternal satisfaction was
also evaluated. Each response was insert
in a 5-point Likert scale (strongly disagree
= 0, 1 = partially disagree, neutral = 2, 3 =
partially agree, totally agree = 4). The survey
was conducted via telephone interview after
verbal consent. The internal consistency
(correlation between each item and overall
maternal satisfaction) was measured by
Cronbach’s a ≥ 0.6 (SPSS ® 17.0). Internal
validity (determining the relationship
between maternal satisfaction resulting from
the average of all items of the questionnaire
and maternal satisfaction overall) was
shown by Pearson correlation (SPSS ® 17.0).
Values of r ≥ 0.5 were considered statistically
significant.
(Figure 1 - page 57)
Once validated, this questionnaire was used
to study 32 healthy pregnant women who
underwent cesarean delivery with neuraxial
anaesthesia (epidural, n = 16; subarachnoid
block, n = 16) between June and July 2007.
The selection of parturients was random for
each group.
Relevant socio-demographic information t was
achieved: age, weight, height, ethnicity and
educational level.
The maternal satisfaction value between
groups was compared with Student t test
(SPSS ® 17.0).
p