The GA Caesar Explained
Sep 25, 2023![](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/blogs/2147545446/images/ae334bc-cf17-ed-3707-428a6315a1f1_Concept_Series_website_YouTube_Banner_.png)
Caesarean sections are usually performed using neuraxial anaesthesia. “Neuraxial” refers to spinal & epidural anaesthesia 💯
The benefits of neuraxial anaesthesia are:
👉🏻 Mum and partner can experience the birth
👉🏻 It provides excellent analgesia
👉🏻 It’s safer for mother and baby
In some situations, a general anaesthetic is necessary!
Reasons for a GA caesar include:
1️⃣ Super urgent deliveries (no time for spinal!) 🚨
2️⃣ Spinal will be dangerous (coagulopathy, infection etc) ⚠️
3️⃣ Mum doesn’t want a spinal 🙅♀️
4️⃣ Can’t get a spinal in ❌
5️⃣ Spinal is not working well or wearing off
There’s no need to panic with a GA caesar, but here are 5 things to remember to keep mother and baby safe:
“The 5 A’s of GA Caesar”
1️⃣ Airway can be tricky - have a video laryngoscope and bougie ready
2️⃣ Aspiration risk - rapid sequence induction with cricoid pressure
3️⃣ Awareness is more common - use depth of anaesthesia monitoring
4️⃣ Aortocaval compression - remember left lateral tilt!
5️⃣ Analgesia - consider TAP blocks and have plenty of opioids ready for after delivery!
Build knowledge ✅
Improve safety ✅
Ref: https://resources.wfsahq.org/atotw/anaesthesia-for-caesarean-delivery-best-practices/