COMPARISON OF EPHEDRINE VERSUS FLUID PRELOAD IN PREVENTION OF HYPOTENSION AFTER SPINAL ANAESTHESIA FOR CAESAREAN SECTION

Spinal Anaesthesia

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of crystalloid preload versus prophylactic ephedrine on blood pressure after spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section.
Study Design: Randomized control trails (RCT).
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, which is a tertiary care hospital from January 2007 to January 2008.
Methodology: One hundred patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected for this study and randomly divided into two groups of 50 each. Patients of group A were preloaded with Hartman’s solution 15ml/kg body weight. Patients in group B received prophylactic intravenous ephedrine 0.25mg/kg body weight just before administration of spinal anesthesia. Blood pressure was recorded before and 03 minutes after administration of spinal anesthesia.
Results: The mean age in group A was 25.54 ± 3.06 years and in group B was 25.34±2.94 years. In group A, there were 6(12%) patients with no/mild hypotension 10(20%) patients of moderate while 34(68%) patients had severe hypotension. In group B 24(48%) patients had no/mild hypotension. Ten (20%) patients had moderate while 16(32%) patients had severe hypotension (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Prophylactic administration of ephedrine is better than crystalloid preload in prevention of significant hypotension in spinal anesthesia for elective caesarean section.