A postoperative comparative study on the effects of general versus regional anesthesia on postoperative quality of recovery after cesarean section

This study compared the effects of general versus regional anesthesia on the postoperative quality of recovery, pain-related outcomes, and hemodynamic stability in parturients undergoing elective cesarean section.A total of 48 parturients were assigned to either a general (n=23) or a regional (n=25) anesthesia group.The primary outcome was the quality of recovery evaluated using the Korean version of the Quality of Recovery-40 questionnaires (QoR-40K) at baseline, and on postoperative day 1 (POD1) and 2 (POD2).Secondary outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, time to first analgesic request, and Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) requirements.Global and dimensional QoR-40K scores showed no significant differences between the two groups at baseline, POD1, or POD2.However, the Regional group exhibited significantly superior early pain-related outcomes.The time to first analgesic request was significantly longer in the regional group (114.8±71.4minute) than in the general group (19.5±12.0minute; P<0.001)Total amount of analgesics, VAS scores, and cumulative PCA bolus attempts/injections were also significantly lower in the regional group during the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) stay (P<0.001).These clinical parameters became comparable by POD1 and POD2, with stable hemodynamics and low side-effect profiles.In conclusion, while regional anesthesia did not significantly improve the global postoperative quality of recovery compared to general anesthesia, it provides clear clinical advantages restricted to the early postoperative period by significantly prolonging the initial analgesic window and reducing immediate postoperative pain management requirements.