It is hard to choose suitable plan of general anesthesia for cesarean section on guarantee of fetal safety and maternal awareness. We compared the effect of 0.8% isoflurane with that of 1.25% sevoflurane on maternal awareness using isolation forearm technique and bispectral index.

Thirty parturients presenting for elective cesarean section under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive either 0.8% isoflurane or sevoflurane 1.25% for maintenance by fetal expulsion. Maternal awareness monitoring was assessed by isolation forearm technique and bispectral index at 1 minute intervals.

Although bispectral index values after intubation 1 minute and 4 minutes were lower in sevoflurane group, no differences were detected in maternal awareness using isolation forearm technique between two groups. Postoperative recall was not detected in both groups. In neonatal outcome, there were no differences in Apgar scores. Acidity was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in umbilical vein gas analysis after sevoflurane administration but it was within normal limits.

The incidence of maternal awareness was high and there were no differences between two groups during cesarean section under general anesthesia.