Comparing the effect of volume preload versus ephedrine infusion for the prevention of hypotension due to spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal and lower limb vascular surgery

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of ephedrine infusion without preblock crystalloid administration in reducing the incidence of hypotension during spinal anesthesia. Patients and methods Fifty patients presented for lower abdominal and lower limb surgery under spinal anesthesia who were divided into equal groups (group F and group E), each group had 25 patients each. Results As regards demographic data there was no statistical significance between both groups. As regards blood pressure there is statistical significance between both groups except at 4 and 22 min postspinal; regarding heart rate there was no statistical significance between both groups; and regarding the incidence of complication, there is statistical significance between both groups. Conclusion Prophylactic intravenous ephedrine infusion is more effective than fluid preload in the prevention of hypotension due to spinal anesthesia for lower abdominal and lower limb vascular surgery.

Keywords

• ephedrine
• spinal anesthesia
• vascular surgery
• volume preload