Comparative Analysis of General vs. Spinal Anesthesia on Neonatal Outcomes in Cesarean Sections: A Retrospective Study

Objective: This study compared the effects of general and spinal anesthesia on neonatal outcomes, including APGAR scores and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rates, in a large series of cesarean deliveries.Material and Method: A retrospective analysis of electronic medical records of patients who underwent cesarean section at a university hospital between January 2010 and December 2024 was conducted. Patients over 18 years of age with live births after 20 weeks of gestation were included. Demographic data, cesarean section number, indication, anesthesia type, and neonatal outcomes (Apgar scores and NICU admission) were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0.Results: A total of 3,876 pregnant women were included in the study. The mean Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were significantly lower in the general anesthesia group compared to the spinal anesthesia group (1st 7.41±1.5/7.55±1.07; 5th 8.53±1.07/8.75±0.84; p