Correlation between spinal column length and the spread of subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine in the term parturient

Abstract

AbstractBackground: Anaesthetists frequently tailor the subarachnoid local anaesthetic dosage according to parturient height to achieve sensory blockade up to the T4 dermatome for lower segment Caesarean sections (LSCSs). Studies that have been conducted have demonstrated that height does not affect the spread of subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine. This study aimed to find the correlation between the spinal column length of term parturients and the highest level of sensory blockade after spinal anaesthesia.Methods: The authors studied 60 singleton term parturients of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II scheduled for elective LSCSs. The length of the spinal column was taken as an average of three measurements from the C7 spinous process to the sacral hiatus in a sitting upright and facing forward position. Spinal anaesthesia was given by administering 1.8 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and 25 μg fentanyl through the L3/L4 or L4/L5 intervertebral space. The level of senso...