Materials and Methods: A total of 511 neonates delivered by vaginal route or cesarean section were included in the study. The neonates were classified according to method of delivery and anesthetic agents as group A (cesarean section / general anesthesia with sevoflurane), group B (cesarean section / spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine hydrochloride), group C (vaginal delivery with episiotomy / local anesthesia with prilocaine hydrochloride) and group D (vaginal delivery/ no anesthesia). The levels of neonatal serum bilirubin in the groups were compared.

Results: There was no difference between group A and group B in terms of neonatal bilirubin levels (p = 0.98). Depending on the use of prilocaine hydrochloride as local anesthetic agent in the vaginal delivery, there was no significant difference between the groups C and D, in terms of the neonatal bilirubin levels (p = 0.99). The serum levels of bilirubin in cesarean section groups were significantly higher than those of the vaginal delivery groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Prilocaine hydrochloride used for episiotomy did not exert any effects on neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, cesarean section with sevoflurane and bupivacaine hydrochloride seemed to result in increased bilirubin levels.