BackgroundDespite controversies about the safest anesthetic technique for cesarean delivery in severely preeclamptic women, there is evidence that supports the use of spinal anesthesia in this group of patients.ObjectivesThis prospective randomized clinical trial was designed to determine the hemodynamic effects of low-dose spinal bupivacaine and the incidence of spinal anesthesia-associated hypotension in severely preeclamptic and healthy parturients undergoing cesarean sections.Patients and MethodsSpinal anesthesia was performed with 10 mg (= 2 mL) hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine plus 2.5 µg sufentanil in two groups of patients after they received 500 mL of IV lactated Ringer’s solution. Heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before spinal anesthesia and at two minutes intervals for 15 minutes after the block, and then every five minutes until the end of the surgery. Hypotension was defined as more than 25% of decline in the mean arterial blood pressure compared to the baseline in both groups (or systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg in healthy parturients) and was treated with 5 mg IV ephedrine. The total amounts of intravenous administered fluid and the total doses of ephedrine were recorded for each patient as well.ResultsThe incidence rate of hypotension among the preeclamptic patients was lower than that of the healthy parturients, despite the former group receiving smaller volumes of intravenous fluids (P < 0.05). The total doses of IV ephedrine for treating hypotension were significantly lower among the preeclamptic patients (3.2 mg in preeclamptic patients versus 7.6 mg in normotensive patients) (P = 0.02). The one-minute Apgar score was significantly lower for the preeclamptic parturients (8.4 ± 0.7 versus 7.2 ± 1.5) (P = 0.001), but there was no significant difference in the five-minute Apgar scores between the two groups.ConclusionsOur results confirm that low-dose bupivacaine spinal anesthesia is associated with a lower risk of hypotension than previously believed, and it can therefore be safely used in severe preeclamptic women undergoing cesarean delivery.

BackgroundThe most common method of anesthesia for cesarean section is spinal anesthesia, and postdural puncture headache (PDPH) remains a major complication of this procedure. Nowadays, PDPH is a major cause of morbidity in parturients after spinal anesthesia. This headache is the third most popular reason for claims against anesthesiologists in obstetrics. The position after spinal anesthesia has been evaluated as a contributory factor in the occurrence of PDPH, but the position before spinal anesthesia has not yet been evaluated.ObjectivesThis study was designed to compare the incidence of PDPH following spinal anesthesia in the sitting position and in the left lateral decubitus position in parturients who underwent elective caesarian section.Patients and MethodsAfter institutional approval, 100 parturients who had been scheduled for elective caesarian section with spinal anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Following patient preparation for the neuraxial blockade, spinal anesthesia was randomly performed in the sitting or in the left lateral decubitus position. Patients were interviewed for PDPH on either postoperative day one, two, or three. The incidence and intensity of PDPH were evaluated and compared using a numeric rating scale (NRS-11).ResultsA total of 94 patients were included in the data analysis. The overall incidence of PDPH was 12.7%. In the sitting group, ten patients (20.8%) had PDPH, compared with two patients (4.3%) in the lateral group (P = 0.017).ConclusionsSpinal anesthesia in the sitting position is more associated with significant PHDH than that in the left lateral decubitus position for patients undergoing elective caesarian section.

Background: Several methods are used for the prevention or decreasing the incidence of spinal anesthesia hemodynamic complications. Ondansetron is a 5HT3 receptor antagonist with known efficacy on preventing nausea and vomiting and probably on intrathecal opioid-induced pruritus. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of intravenous Ondansetron on the attenuation of blood pressure and heart rate, by 5HT3 blocking in vagal nerve endings and effect on Bezold Jarish reflex. Material and Methods: One hundred and two candidates for elective cesarean section were randomized into 2 groups of 51 cases, the Ondansetron group received 4mg Ondansetron intravenously before performing spinal anesthesia, and placebo group received 2cc sterile water. Hypotension was defined: Systolic blood pressure less than 100 MmHg or fall more than 20% from primary BP which was treated by administration of Ephedrine in case of any. In both groups, Ondansetron effect was studied on hypotension occurrence, bradycardia, consumed Ephedrine amount, pruritus, nausea and vomiting. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in systolic/diastolic blood pressure, Mean Arterial Pressure, heart rate and pruritus in both groups (P=0.081).Nausea and vomiting in the first 10 minutes after spinal anesthesia were lesser in Ondansetron group (P= 0.001). Mean consumed Ephedrine was significantly lesser in Ondansetron group (5.8 mg in Ondansetron and 10.7 mg in placebo group, P=0.009). Conclusion: Ondansetron  given  intravenously  with  antiemetic  dose  (4  mg)  decreases  mean consumed Ephedrine and nausea and vomiting after spinal anesthesia, but does not have an influence on blood pressure, heart rate and pruritus.[GMJ. 2016;5(1):13-18]

Background. Prolonged preoperative fasting is one of the concerns of pediatricians and anesthesiologists in pediatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of preoperative fasting duration on blood glucose and hemodynamics in children. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 children who were between the ages of 3 and 12 years in Besat Hospital, Hamedan, Iran. The time of the last solid and liquid meal taken by child were recorded based on interview with the parents. The first blood glucose test was obtained in the operation room, and the second test was performed 20 minutes after induction of anesthesia by glucometer. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded before anesthesia induction and in five-minute intervals in the first 20 minutes of surgery. Results. The mean age of the children was 6.63 (SD 1.85) years. Mean blood glucose 20 minutes after surgery was 101.17 (SD 92) mg/dl, which was significantly higher than the baseline values (87.66 (SD 11.84) mg/dl) (P<0.001). The comparison of mean blood glucose level between groups of fasting with different duration for solids (<12 hours and >12 hours) and for liquids (<6 hours and >6 hours) revealed no significant difference in either groups (P>0.05). No significant correlation was observed between blood glucose level at the induction of anesthesia with weight and age (P>0.05). There was a significantly negative correlation between duration of fasting for liquids and SBP (P>0.05). Conclusion. Prolonged preoperative fasting cannot affect blood glucose in children; however, maybe it has impact on systolic blood pressure.

Background. Hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation are transient in most patients. However, in some patients with a history of heart disease, systemic hypertension, or cerebrovascular disease, these may lead to dangerous complications. This study is aimed at determining the effectiveness of intravenous nitroglycerin bolus doses in reducing hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation. Material and Method. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 78 patients aged 18 to 65 years were randomly divided into three groups: 1 μg/kg dose of nitroglycerin (first group), 2 μg/kg dose of nitroglycerin (second group), and normal saline or placebo (third group). 26 samples were allocated for each group. Patients’ hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation were measured at different times. Data were analyzed using SPSS V 16. Results. Patients in the three study groups were similar in terms of age, sex, and weight. There was no significant difference between the mean saturation of peripheral oxygen (SPO2) and the mean heart rate between the three groups before endotracheal intubation and 1 to 10 minutes after intubation ( P > 0.05 ). The difference of mean arterial blood pressure between study groups was only significant in the first and fifth minutes after intubation. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the first, third, and fifth minutes after intubation was significantly lower in the intervention groups than the control group ( P < 0.05 ). However, no significant difference was observed between the intervention groups. The frequency of systolic blood pressure decrease was significantly different in the first and fifth minutes after intubation in the three study groups ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Bolus doses of 1 and 2 μg/kg nitroglycerin in noncardiac elective surgery prevents the increase of mean systolic, diastolic, and arterial blood pressure but has no significant effect on heart rate after intubation.