"Prospective Comparative Study Of The Effects Of General And Spinal Anesthesia On Postoperative Outcomes And Quality Of Life In Women Undergoing Elective Caesarean Section At El-Beyda Medical Center, Libya"

Abstract

Background and Objectives: A caesarean section is a surgical intervention for childbirth, involving an abdominal incision (laparotomy) and a uterine incision (hysterostomy), as opposed to a vaginal delivery. The extraordinarily high rates of mortality and morbidity are attributed not only to the surgical procedure but also to the administered anaesthesia. The selection of anaesthetic can significantly affect postoperative recovery, patient satisfaction, and, ultimately, quality of life. The study aimed to investigate the effects of spinal and general anaesthesia on the quality of life of women following caesarean section.

Method: This study was a prospective cross-sectional comparative investigation evaluating the effects of general and spinal anaesthesia on the outcomes and quality of life of women undergoing elective caesarean sections at El-Beyda Medical Centre, Libya. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire presented through face-to-face interviews. Quantitative factors were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and independent t-tests.

Results: Our findings show that women who had spinal anesthesia had less mobility problems after 24 hours than those who had general anesthesia (6% vs. 2%). They also said that they were better at taking care of themselves (12% vs. 8%) and that their pain levels were moderate (36% vs. 38%, p<0.05). The results were better for spinal anesthesia after one week and one month. One week after surgery, women who had spinal anesthesia had better mobility (58% vs. 38%), self-care (42% vs. 34%), regular activities (36% vs. 26%), and pain and discomfort (36% vs. 28%). After one month, the mobility outcomes were 94% versus 86%, self-care was 92% versus 88%, and 82% of women reported no pain difficulties compared to 72%.
Conclusion: Our study shows that spinal anesthesia is better than general anesthesia for women's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after elective caesarean sections. Spinal anesthesia is the preferred technique for caesarean sections because it promotes faster postoperative recovery and more effective pain control.