WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Ahmed Bahaa Hasan*, Dhurgham Awadh Fadhil and Mokhalad Hikmat Ameen

ABSTRACT

Background: There is a considerable dispute over the use of different techniques for the prevention of hypotension during caesarean section under spinal anesthesia . There is a hypothesis that crystalloid preloading together with prophylactic intramuscular (IM) ephedrine injection prevents occurrence of hypotension during caesarean section under spinal anesthesia. The best protective dose of (IM) ephedrine in relation to the appropriate time intervals, in order to prevent hypotension during caesarean section was assessed in this study. Aim: To compare between the preloading with crystalloid alone and crystalloid preload with ephedrine (IM) in prevention of hypotension during caesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Patient and Methods: Eighty healthy pregnant mothers all ASA class I&II were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A (control group) was given crystalloid preloading (0.9% normal saline (15ml/kg)) only within 20 (min) prior to spinal anesthesia. Group B received IM ephedrine 15 mg, 10 and 0 min prior to spinal anesthesia along with crystalloid preloading (0.9% normal saline (15ml/kg)) within 20 (min) prior to spinal anesthesia. Results: In the group A, a significant mean arterial blood pressure(MAP) drop was observed at 5 min , 10min, 15min and 20 min time intervals(P<0.01). Group B steadily maintained the blood pressure at all time intervals without showing any significant changes. Conclusion: We conclude that preloading with crystalloid alone and crystalloid with prophylactic (IM) ephedrine 15mg given 10 min and 0 min prior to spinal anesthesia will effectively prevent hypotension during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia.