Comparison Of Gastric PH In Emergency Versus Elective Caesarean Sections | Insight Medical Publishing

Background: The volume of the gastric fluids and the gastric pH both are affected during pregnancy and surgery. The gastric fluid volume and pH are also affected by the mode of surgery (elective caesarean section and emergency caesarean). Objective: The predetermined aim of this study was to compare the gastric fluid pH in emergency with elective caesarean sections. Method: The study was conducted in Divisional Headquarters Teaching Hospital, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir and the sample population was consisted of 150 patients. The sample was divided into two groups, the patients with emergency caesarean section and elective caesarean section group. The gastric volume and gastric pH were detected in both groups of the study. Results: The group of the patients in the emergency caesarean section showed lower gastric pH value (2.16 ± 0.64) and the gastric acid volume was (26.33 ± 10.59). In comparison, the gastric pH value for elective caesarean section was (4.56 ± 1.28) and gastric acid volume was (11.65 ± 4.37) respectively. The results were found to be significant at p-value <0.05. Conclusion: The results of the study concluded that gastric volume was significantly higher and gastric pH was significantly lower in emergency caesarean section as compared to elective caesarean section.