Abstract
Background
Spinal anesthesia is the preferred method for elective cesarean sections (C.S.) due to considerable risks regarding airway management associated with physiological changes of pregnancy. Hypotension is reported to occur in up to 80% of spinal anesthesia cases. Many approaches have been investigated to prevent spinal hypotension, e.g., fluid loading, vasopressors, or both. Thus we compare the administration of intermittent I.V. boluses of norepinephrine and ephedrine to guard against the hypotensive effect of spinal anesthesia during cesarean delivery.
Patients and Methods
120 female patients undergoing electiveC.S.were randomly divided into “group-E” for Ephedrine and “group-N” for Norepinephrine.
Results
Compared with ephedrine, norepinephrine maintained maternal blood pressure and uterine artery blood flow. Further, it was associated with lower numbers of hypotension and hypertension episodes and less frequency of bradycardia and tachycardia during cesarean delivery.
Conclusion
Norepinephrine can be used as an alternative vasopressor to maintain maternal blood pressure during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery, with no adverse effect on neonatal outcome.
Differential DNA Methylation in Placenta Associated With Maternal Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
