Priyanka Priyadarshini C. 1 , Kota Raju2
BACKGROUND Various techniques of anaesthesia are practiced in the management of obstetric patients, like general anaesthesia and various types of central neuraxial block including spinal anaesthesia, epidural anaesthesia, and combined spinal epidural anaesthesia. We wanted to study the effectiveness of ephedrine (3 mg / mL / min) and phenylephrine (100 mcg / mL / min) infusion in the control of intraoperative hypotension. METHODS The present clinical study was conducted among sixty female patients, 18 – 40 years of age, of ASA I and II, who underwent elective lower segment caesarean section. The study population was randomly divided into 2 groups with 30 patients in each group. RESULTS Ephedrine in the form of 3 mg / mL infusion effectively maintains maternal blood pressure after spinal anaesthesia in majority of patients. Its use is associated with a stable or slight increase in heart rate with good neonatal outcome. Phenylephrine in a dose of 100 microgram / mL raises the blood pressure in majority of patients. Its use is associated with a stable or reduced heart rate, with good neonatal outcome. Incidence of vomiting and nausea is more with ephedrine than phenylephrine. CONCLUSIONS Both ephedrine 3 mg infusion, and phenylephrine 100 microgram / mL intravenous infusion, can safely be employed to control hypotension in patients undergoing elective lower segment caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Neonatal outcome is also good with both the drugs.
