Table 4.

Primary outcome, general anaesthesia with partner present

Study (First author, year)	Findings	Quality of evidence (see Table 3)
Sakala,24 1988	20 CSGA with father present, but unknown how many of these were emergency CS. When controlling for mode of anaesthesia (regional vs. general), there were no differences between maternal and neonatal outcomes.	Low
Savage,26 2007	Survey of clinical directors in gynaecology and obstetrics in the United Kingdom. CSGA with the partner present is only mentioned in a quote: ‘Some colleagues have reservations if the caesarean is under general anaesthesia’.	Moderate
McIlmoyle,42 2010	Questionnaire, 81 staff members performing CS (data cannot be separated in elective vs. emergency). 10% of staff agreed or strongly agreed that partners should be present during CSGA. 85% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 19% agreed or strongly agreed that the partner should be present for CSGA only after intubation. 73% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 7% agreed or strongly agreed that the partner should be present for CSGA only after birth. 93% disagreed or strongly disagreed. ‘[…] other members of staff in particular midwives are opposed to partners’ presence during general anaesthesia’.	Low
McIlmoyle,43 2012	Questionnaire, 56 mothers, 53 partners (33 elective, 23 emergency CS, data cannot be separated in elective vs. emergency) 64% of women strongly agreed, and 18% agreed that it was important for their partner to be present during CS under general anaesthesia. 72% of partners strongly agreed, and 19% agreed that it was important to be with the woman during CS under general anaesthesia.	Low
Hugill,30 2015	Eight parents (four mothers, four fathers) had CSGA, one elective (data on this case is excluded). Fathers were not present in the OR. One mother said ‘I think I would prefer you [the father] there. You’re not going to get in the way’. One father said: ‘You want to be the first to see your child. The bits you’ve missed, it's the bits that where really wanted’.	Low
Watts,6 2016	Questionnaire, all obstetric leads in the United Kingdom. CSGA is mentioned: ‘A small number of units allowed partners to be present when providing general anaesthesia’, no mention regarding emergency caesarean sections.	Low

Studies are included in this table if they describe original clinical findings (as opposed to personal opinions) concerning having the partner present during emergency caesarean section under general anaesthesia. The following studies, which describe original clinical findings, were not included in the table because of the following: no partners were present during caesarean section under general anaesthesia (as far as can be evaluated based on the available data in the manuscript) or were asked about their thoughts about not being present: Cain,²² Svensen,²³ Brüggemann²⁹; no participating mothers had general anaesthesia: Ceronio,²⁷ Perede-Goikoetxea³²; not stated which mode of anaesthesia was considered/used: Lindberg,²⁸ Kondou,³¹ Maziero,³³ Tarkka.²⁵ CS, caesarean section (only used in the meaning ‘emergency caesarean section’ as studies concerning elective caesarean sections were not included); CSRA, caesarean section under regional anaesthesia; OR, operating room.