Application of gradient cushion on prevention of supine hypotension syndrome undergoing cesarean section

Abstract

Objective To investigate the application of gradient cushion on prevention of supine hypotension syndrome (SHS) undergoing cesarean section. Methods 450 parturients undergoing cesarean section with spinal and epidural anesthesia, aged 20-45 years, ASA Ⅰ, Ⅱor Ⅲ grades, were randomly assigned into three groups: gradient cushion group (group A), sandbag group (group B) and left-leaning-operating table group (group C), 150 cases in each. The posture intervention was alternated after completion of spinal and epidural anesthesia. Recorded the cases of SHS, and collected systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and saturation of pulse oximetry (SpO2) before anesthesia, 2 min, 5 min, 10 min after anesthesia and prefetus removal from uterus. And assessed the position comfort with surgical posture comfort scale. Results The incidence of SHS in group A was 8.0%(12/150), in group B was 20.0% (30/150), and in group C was 21.3% (32/150). The rate of SHS was higher in group A than other groups (χ2 value was 8.970, 10.653, all P<0.01). The score with surgical posture comfort scale was (47.03 ± 3.01), (38.13 ± 4.70), (36.10 ± 4.04), which was higher in group A than group B or group C, and the score with surgical posture comfort scale was higher in group B than group C (t value was 27.413, 30.227, 2.542, P<0.01 or 0.05). SBP and DBP were higher in group A and group B than group C at 2 min, 5 min, 10 min after anesthesia and prefetus removal from uterus, and SBP and DBP were higher in group A than group B at 2 min, 5 min, 10 min after anesthesia and prefetus removal from uterus, HR and RR were higher in group A and group B than group C at 2 min, 5 min, 10 min after anesthesia and prefetus removal from uterus, and HR and RR were higher in group A than group B at 2 min, 5 min, 10 min after anesthesia and prefetus removal from uterus (t value was -15.842-21.117, P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion After spinal and epidural anesthesia, applying the gradient cushion for adjustment of position would be effective to reduce the occurrence of SHS, simple to handle, decreasing to change the position and increasing to comfort after position in cesarean section. Key words: Supine hypotension syndrome; Cesarean section; Spinal andepidural anesthesia; Comfort; Gradient cushion