[General anaesthesia and obstetric bleeding in caesarean section. One year's experience in a university hospital].

INTRODUCTION: Obstetric haemorrhage is an important worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. General anaesthesia for caesarean section is rarely used. Our goal is to analyse the incidence, causes and risk factors associated with general anaesthesia for caesarean section, and the prevalence of obstetric haemorrhage (HO), its risk factors and predictors of post-caesarean HO together with the use of blood in our hospital population.

METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on all caesarean section discharge reports from PACU in 2008.

RESULTS: General anaesthesia was required in 12.4% of the patients. Epidural catheter failure as a cause of general anaesthesia was infrequent (2.8%) and within the recommended standards.

CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent indications for caesarean section under general anaesthesia included mainly life-threatening emergencies, and the most important risk factors for general anaesthesia, including coagulation disorders, bleeding in the third trimester, foetal distress and severe pre-eclampsia. General anaesthesia is a risk factor for transfusion, as is abruptio placentae, placenta previa and pre-eclampsia.