Turk Anesteziyoloji ve Reanimasyon Dernegi Dergisi, cilt.37, sa.2, ss.86-95, 2009 (Scopus)
Aim: The role oi anaesthesiologists in obstetric practices was increased due to the advances in medicine, advanced age for pregnancy and coexisting diseases. In this study, the Turkish obstetric anaesthesia practice data of 1998 was compared with the results of the survey made in 2005, to find out if there were any changes in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Questionnaire forms were sent to different anaesthesia departments of training (university and state) and private hospitals all over Turkey. Hospital categories and the number of total deliveries, caesarean sections, spontaneous vaginal labours, emergency and elective caesarean sections were surveyed. Furthermore, methods and numbers of labour analgesia for spontaneous vaginal delivery, anaesthesia methods for caesarean sections and the use of postoperative analgesia were also questioned. Results: 51. responds from different hospitals were evaluated. Caesarean section rate in all deliveries was 34.4 % and it was significantly higher when compared to 1998's rate (p<0.001). The rate of regional anaesthesia in caesarean section was statistically increased in all hospital categories (jxO.001). In university and stale hospitals, the most common preterred regional iinaest-hesia method was spinal anaesthesia and it was significantly higher when compared with 1998 (p<0.()01). In university hospitals regional anaesthesia rale for labour analgesia was significantly increased (jxO.001). Discussion: Between 1998 and 2005 the frequency of preference of regional anaesthesia techniques were increased. The increase in the choice of regional anaesthesia techniques may be related to the increase iu the number of anaestbesiologisls who were involved in obstetric anaesthesia training during their residency. We also think that the increasing awareness of mothers may have an impact on anaesthesiologists' tendency to learn obstetric analgesia and anaesthesia methods.