Anesthesiology/C-sections

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Expert: - 6/23/2009


Question
I had an emergency c-section after 14 hours of labor with my first child my OB had to put me completely under to do the surgery because of complications I had with the epidural during my labor. Will I have to be put to sleep again with my second child or are there other options that could work for me?

Answer
It's preferred to provide an epidural or spinal anesthetic for C-sections as opposed to general anesthetics.  However, the epidural/spinal option can fail as the epidural did in your case, at which point to provide a timely delivery one would proceed with a general.  That you had complications with the first birth's epidural does not exclude an epidural the second or third time around.

Anesthesiology

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Volunteer

JM Starkman, MD

Experience

Over twenty-five years of adult and pediatric, inpatient and outpatient clinical anesthesia practice--some private, some group.

Organizations
American Association of Physicians and Surgeons. My county medical society.

Publications
[not a researcher]

Education/Credentials
American medical school graduate. Board Certified. Fellowship trained Cardiovascular and Pediatric anesthesia subspecialist.

Past/Present Clients
Over 20,000 anesthetics, the majority of which have been personally managed, with less than 5% consisting of supervising nurse anesthetists or in-training resident physicians.

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