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A large European study found that general anesthesia was used in nearly 15% of all cesarean deliveries — but that figure jumped to over 54% in emergency cases. Researchers analyzed nearly 10,000 C-sections across 31 countries and found striking variation between nations. The findings highlight opportunities to optimize anesthesia planning, especially in elective cases.
A prospective cohort study spanning 31 European countries found that general anesthesia (GA) was used in 14.8% of all cesarean deliveries — with use roughly five times higher in emergency cases compared to elective ones. Researchers analyzed nearly 10,000 C-sections across 361 centers, classifying cases by urgency: emergency, urgent, expedited, or elective. The study, published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, reveals both clinical patterns and significant geographic variation in anesthesia practice.
While neuraxial anesthesia (e.g., spinal or epidural) was the initial plan for 92.4% of deliveries, nearly 1 in 12 of those cases were converted to GA — most often during emergencies. In elective cases, maternal request was the top reason for choosing GA upfront, while emergent clinical need drove the switch in emergency scenarios.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings don't prescribe individual care decisions, but they spotlight wide practice gaps across Europe — and underscore the need for better urgency classification, patient-reported outcomes, and targeted audits to improve anesthesia safety in childbirth.
