Use of the common gas outlet for the administration of supplemental oxygen during Caesarean section under regional anaesthesia.

A postal survey investigating the administration of supplemental oxygen to women undergoing Caesarean section under regional anaesthesia was sent to 262 lead consultant obstetric anaesthetists in the UK. Two hundred and fifteen (82) completed questionnaires were returned. In 139 units (65) supplemental oxygen was administered routinely to all Caesarean sections under regional techniques, while in 71 (33), supplemental oxygen was given only if the procedure is an emergency or if there was evidence of fetal or maternal compromise. In 196 units (91), the common gas outlet was used as the source of supplemental oxygen, with the standard anaesthetic breathing circuit disconnected in 194 (90) and the vaporisers left on the back bar in 191 (89). Critical incidents had occurred in 39 (18) of units using the common gas outlet as a source of supplemental oxygen and 63 (30) had experience of critical incidents with this practice in a non-obstetric setting. We suggest that supplemental oxygen is more safely administered from a separate and dedicated source.