Spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean section is associated with shorter hospital stay compared to general anesthesia.

Objectives: This prospective study aims to compare maternal and neonatal effects of spinal and general anesthesia for elective cesarean section.

Methods: Term parturients receiving routine spinal (Group SA, n=95) or general (Group GA, n=93) anesthesia and standard postoperative analgesia for elective cesarean section were included in this study. Operation time, incision-hysterotomy (TS-H) and hysterotomy-umbilical cord clamping (TH-U) intervals, oxytocine requirement, intraoperative fluids, ephedrine requirement, incidence of hypotension, time to first analgesic requirement (Tanalg), pethidine consumption, adverse events, time to first breastfeeding, oral food intake (TOI), flatulence (TF), defecation (TD), mobilization, and postoperative hospital stay were compared between the groups.