278 Assessing effects of lateral tilt on cardiac output using a Non-invasive technique

Abstract

Aortocaval compression (ACC), or supine hypotension syndrome, may lead to adverse fetal outcomes secondary to changes in maternal hemodynamics. Lateral tilt has been advocated to address ACC. We aim to determine the maternal position with the least effect on maternal hemodynamics. Term pregnant women scheduled for induction of labor were first placed in semi-recumbent (baseline), followed by supine, 15o and 30 o left lateral tilt (LLT), each for 20 minutes period, after which hemodynamic parameters were measuring using non-invasive cardiac output monitor NICOM. Friedman ANOVA with Dunn’s test multiple comparison test were used for analysis. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Forty subjects were included (Table). Cardiac index (CI) significantly increased in the supine position compared with baseline (median [range]: 3.8 [2.8-5.2] vs 4.2 [2.9-5.9] L/min/m2). CI also increased in 15o and 30 o left lateral tilt but did not reach statistical significance (Figure). Compared with baseline, stroke volume index (SVI) significantly increased (baseline: 43.7 [31.0-65.0]; supine: 49.5 [34.0-77.0]; 15o LLT: 49.8 [34.0-70.0] and 30o LLT: 49.9 [32.0-66.0] ml/m2; P<0.05 for all; Figure) while maternal heart rate significantly decreased in all 3 positions (baseline: 88 [70-106], supine: 85[63-99], 15o LLT: 81 [61-98] and 30o LLT: 80.0 [61-96] bpm; P<0.05 for all). Stroke volume variation (SVV) significantly decreased in all 3 positions (baseline: 12.9 [8.0-18.0], supine: 11.6 [7.0-17.0], 15o LLT: 11.6 [6.0-20.0] and 30o LLT 11.5 [7.0-20.0] %; P<0.05 for all). Subgroup analysis for BMI above or below 30 Kg/m2 showed similar results. Compared to semi-recumbent position, supine followed by left tilt position led to improvements in maternal hemodynamic parameters. The improvement in SVV, a measure of hypovolemia, indicates an increase in venous return and upper-right shift in the Frank-Starling curve. It is best to avoid semi-recumbent position in term pregnancies.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)