Is a paediatrician needed at all Caesarean sections?

Abstract

Objective: The need for a skilled neonatal resuscitator in the form of a paediatrician or paediatric registrar to attend a vaginal delivery or Caesarean section (cs) is not clearly defined. This study was undertaken in order to ascertain the level of resuscitation a neonate might require dependent on the delivery mode and type of anaesthesia used. Methodology: We analysed the Tasmanian Obstetric Audit from 1980 to 1989 for the need for intubation and Apgar scores at 1 min of term singleton deliveries by the mode of delivery. Results: The number of singleton term deliveries was 64 739. When the data were analysed annually there was a trend for a reduction in the need for intubation in CS deli..