Colloid Co-hydration and Vasoconstrictor Infusion for Prevention of Hypotension During Cesarean Section

Colloid Co-hydration and Vasoconstrictor Infusion for Prevention of Postspinal Hypotension During Elective Cesarean Section. A Comparative Study

This will be a double-blind randomized study, aiming at investigating a fixed rate phenylephrine infusion versus a fixed rate norepinephrine infusion versus placebo in combination with co-hydration with colloids for the prevention of maternal hypotension in elective cesarean section

Neuraxial techniques are the anesthetic techniques of choice in contemporary obstetric anesthesia practice, with a definitive superiority as compared to general anesthesia, since, by their use, serious complications involving the airway can be avoided.Spinal anesthesia has become the favorable technique for both elective and emergency cesarean section due to a quick and predictable onset of action, however, it can be frequently complicated by hypotension, with incidence exceeding 80% occasionally.

The aim of the current randomized controlled double-blinded trial was to compare the effect of a fixed-rate norepinephrine infusion versus a fixed-rate phenylephrine infusion versus placebo in parturients subjected to elective cesarean section under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. All parturients will also receive colloid co-hydration.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult parturients, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-II,
• singleton gestation>37 weeks
• elective cesarean section

Exclusion Criteria:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) >40 kg/m2
• Body weight <50 kg
• Body weight>100 kg
• height<150 cm
• height>180 cm
• multiple gestation
• fetal abnormality
• fetal distress
• active labor
• cardiac disease
• pregnancy-induced hypertension
• thrombocytopenia
• coagulation abnormalities
• use of antihypertensive medication during pregnancy
• communication or language barriers
• lack of informed consent
• contraindication for regional anesthesia