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EP137 The progress of regional anesthesia use in cesarean sections in the regular setting: a study at the regional hospital of Rhodes, Greece (2014–2023)

rapm · 2025-09-10 · canonical JSON source

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Background and Aims It is widely acknowledged that, unless contraindicated, regional anesthesia (RA) techniques are preferred for cesarean sections (CS), as they are associated with fewer complications compared to general anesthesia (GA). This study examines the progress of RA use in CS over a 10-year period (2014–2023) at the General Hospital of Rhodes (GHR), the largest hospital and primary reference point in the South Aegean region of Greece.Methods The archives of the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Unit were examined, including all cesarean sections performed during the aforementioned time span. Data were recorded on age, type of anesthesia (spinal, epidural, general, combined spinal and epidural, and combined general and epidural), setting (regular or emergency), and provenance (Greek or foreign). No additional data were collected to ensure patient anonymity.Results A total of 2,074 cesarean sections in the regular setting were recorded for the decade 2014–2023. Of these, 1,019 involved RA, while 1,055 involved GA. Greek patients generally prefer RA over GA, while foreign patients tend to prefer GA. Patients under 30 years of age are more likely to prefer GA, whereas the preference is equally divided among patients over 30. The use of RA has been progressively increasing, particularly after 2016.Conclusions The use of RA has been steadily increasing at the General Hospital of Rhodes (GHR) over the past decade. However, the incidence of GA in the regular setting remains high, particularly among foreign patients. Reasons include fear, misinformation, cultural and language barriers that hinder communication and understanding. Educational campaigns and information sessions, combined with a patient-centered approach, have shown promising results. In terms of communication, next-generation AI applications could be leveraged to overcome language barriers, thereby increasing the incidence of regional anesthesia (RA) and enhancing patient safety.