Effects of different anesthetic techniques on neurologic and adaptation capacity in newborn with elective cesarean section

Neurologic and Adaptive Capacity Scoring (NACS) has been introduced as a screening test for diagnosis of central nervous system depression due to intrapartum drugs on the neonate. This test can show neurological and behavioral changes even in the presence of a normal Apgar score. NACS has 20 indicators, each indicator allocating to itself the score zero, one or two. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different anesthetic techniques on the NACS values.

This study was performed as a randomized, single‑blind clinical trial on 75 infants born with elective cesarean in Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan. Simple Sampling method was carried out and the information was gathered by questionnaires. Anesthetic techniques included general, spinal or epidural anesthesia. NACS score was assessed at 15th min, 2 and 24 h after birth and then the anesthesia technique was recorded in the questionnaire. NACS score 35 or above was considered normal and 34 or less was abnormal.

In the present study, no significant correlation was found between the anesthesia techniques and NACS score. The mean NACS at 15 min after birthin the general, spinal and epidural groups were 33.5 ± 2.2, 33.0 ± 4.4 and 33.7 ± 1.6 respectively (P = 0.703).

All three anesthetic techniques have identical effects on neurological and compatibility capacity of neonates born with elective cesarean; so, this could necessarily be a base to recommend the three methods equally.