English

Abstract

The most common complication of spinal anesthesia for cesarean section ishypotension. Ephedrine is the most commonly used vasopressor that increases blood pressurewith minimal impact on uteroplacental blood flow. An alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist mayneed to be administrated when ephedrine is ineffective. Unavailability of alpha-1 receptoragonists in a period of time in our center leads to administration of epinephrine as the seconddrug. In the present study, the data of 14 patients with ephedrine resistant hypotension duringspinal anesthesia for cesarean section were reviewed. Increase in maternal blood pressurewas recorded one minute after epinephrine administration in all patients. Surprisingly, thismedication also causes uterine relaxation after one to five minutes. Ease of fetal extractionwas noticed in 13 patients. All patients achieved adequate uterine contraction after delivery.Epinephrine helped regulate blood pressure and surprisingly facilitate uterine relaxation inpatients with emergency cesarean section with spinal anesthesia.