Compared with neuraxial anesthesia, general anesthesia for cesarean delivery is associated with increased risk of maternal adverse events.

Reducing avoidable general anesthetics for cesarean delivery may improve safety of obstetric anesthesia care.

This study examined adverse events, trends, and factors associated with potentially avoidable general anesthetics for cesarean delivery.

This retrospective study analyzed cesarean delivery cases without a recorded indication for general anesthesia or contraindication to neuraxial anesthesia in New York State hospitals, 2003 to 2014. Adverse events

included anesthesia complications (systemic, neuraxial-related, and drugrelated), surgical site infection, venous thromboembolism, and the composite of death or cardiac arrest. Anesthesia complications were defined as severe if associated with death, organ failure, or prolonged hospital stay.