Comparison of norepinephrine with ephedrine boluses for the treatment of maternal hypotension during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Spinal Induced Hypotension: Hypotension is one of the most common side effects of spinal anesthesia for lower segment cesarean section (LSCS). The most commonly used vasopressors for the treatment of spinal-induced hypotension (SIH) are phenylephrine, ephedrine, and norepinephrine. Aim: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of boluses of ephedrine and norepinephrine for the treatment of SIH in cesarean section. Methods and Material: A prospective observational study was conducted on 160 women undergoing elective and emergency cesarean section receiving spinal anesthesia with injection of bupivacaine heavily. Whenever hypotension (fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP) 0.05). The mean dose requirement of ephedrine in group E was 1.94 and in group N was 2.04. Conclusions: Ephedrine (6 mg) and norepinephrine (6 μg) boluses are efficacious in treating hypotension after spinal anesthesia in obstetric patients. Norepinephrine appears to be favorable in view of HR than ephedrine.

Keywords

• cesarean section
• ephedrine
• norepinephrine
• spinal anesthesia