The GA Caesar Explained

airway management education emergency management intubation obstetrics anaesthesia Sep 25, 2023

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/



 

Stay connected with news and updates!

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.
Don't worry, your information will not be shared.

We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.

Want to keep learning?

Want more content like this? Check out our premium membership for exclusive content. 

Click Here for Access

 

 

Join our mailing list for free weekly educational content.

 

By entering your details you consent to receiving amazing educational materials and updates about our products and events.