Objective: To investigate risk factors predicting unplanned conversion to general anesthesia during elective cesarean section, and to examine maternal and fetal outcomes associated with unplanned conversion compared with other modes of anesthesia.
Study design: A retrospective cohort at a UK center (2008 to 2013). Women (4337) underwent elective cesarean section. Delivery outcomes were compared according to anesthesia type using logistic regression.
Result: Women (1.6%) underwent unplanned conversion to general anesthetic. Unplanned conversion was associated with higher parity (odds ratio (OR) 3.82, confidence interval (CI; (1.58 to 9.62)) and maternal age ⩾40 (OR 4.40, CI (1.08 to 29.88)). Compared with spinal anesthetic, unplanned conversion was associated with increased likelihood of maternal hemorrhage ⩾1.5 l (OR 5.74, CI (1.90 to 14.01)) and delayed neonatal respiration (OR 4.76, CI (1.76 to 11.05)). Adverse outcomes were not significantly more likely compared with planned general anesthetic.
Conclusion: Higher parity and maternal age are risk factors for unplanned conversion to general anesthetic. There is no increase in the likelihood of adverse outcomes with unplanned versus planned general anesthetic.