Randomised trial of intravenous infusion of ephedrine or mephentermine for
management of hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section.
Author(s): Kansal A, Mohta M, Sethi AK, Tyagi A, Kumar P.
Affiliation(s): Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical care, University College of Medical
Sciences, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi 110096, India.
Publication date & source: 2005, Anaesthesia. , 60(1):28-34
This study compared the effects of intravenous infusions of ephedrine and
mephentermine for maintenance of maternal arterial pressure and neonatal outcome
in pregnant women receiving subarachnoid block for lower segment Caesarean
section. Sixty patients who developed hypotension following subarachnoid block
for Caesarean section were randomly divided into two groups of 30 each to receive
an intravenous infusion of ephedrine or mephentermine. Hypotension was defined as
a decrease in systolic blood pressure of > or = 20% from the baseline value or an
absolute value of <100 mmHg, whichever was higher. The vasopressor infusion was
titrated to maintain systolic blood pressure between 'hypotension' and baseline
values. Baseline haemodynamic parameters, haemodynamic changes subsequent to the
start of vasopressor infusion, duration of hypotension and amount of vasopressor
required were statistically similar for both groups. Neonatal APGAR scores and
acid-base profiles were also comparable. To conclude, mephentermine can be used
as safely and effectively as ephedrine for the management of hypotension during
spinal anaesthesia in patients undergoing elective Caesarean section.
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