Insufficient Regional Anesthesia and Conversion to General Anesthesia for Cesarean Section A Qualitative Multicenter Study

What this Trial Is About

In Denmark, about 20% of all children are born by cesarean section, which is the most common surgical procedure. The recommended anesthesia method is regional anesthesia, such as spinal or epidural, because it allows the mother to be awake and reduces certain risks. However, some women experience pain during the procedure due to insufficient anesthesia, sometimes requiring conversion to general anesthesia. This study aims to explore how women experience this conversion and the factors affecting their experience after cesarean sections with inadequate regional anesthesia. The study involves women who have undergone elective or emergency cesarean sections where regional anesthesia was switched to general anesthesia during the operation due to insufficient pain relief. Women will be invited to participate shortly after their cesarean section before hospital discharge. The study will include all such cases from six Danish hospitals over one year. Participants will have a follow-up telephone interview three months after surgery, including a screening for post-traumatic stress. During the study, women will first be contacted within one or two days after their cesarean section to invite them to participate. Those who agree will be interviewed by phone about their experiences three months later, with the interviews recorded and transcribed for analysis. Researchers will assess their experience of insufficient anesthesia and screen for post-traumatic stress symptoms. The study focuses on understanding the emotional and psychological impact of anesthesia conversion during cesarean delivery.

Insufficient Regional Anesthesia and Conversion to General Anesthesia for Cesarean Section A Qualitative Multicenter Study