PREVENTION OF POST SPINAL HYPOTENSION;

Abstract

Objective: Objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of intramuscular ephedrine along with preloading in prevention ofpost spinal hypotension in elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. Study design: This is a quasi experimental study. Place andduration of study: The study was conducted at the department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar overa period of one year. Patients and Methods: In a double-blind, randomized study, 80 elderly patients undergoing inguinal hernia surgery underspinal anaesthesia divided into two equal groups of A and B. Forty patients received i/m inj of ephedrine 45mg deep in the paravertebralmuscles immediately after injection of bupivacaine, and 40 received an equal volume of saline. Patients in both groups were given the samevolumes of fluid before anaesthesia. The incidence of hypotension (Systolic arterial pressure <90mmHg or <80 % of baseline) were recorded.and incidence of fall in the heart rate was recorded. Results: Systolic arterial pressure during the first 60 min after anaesthesia remainedsignificantly more stable in the ephedrine-treated group, and there was also a significantly smaller number of patients in this group who haddecreases in pressure of more than 30% of pre-block levels and fewer required rescue i.v. Ephedrine. An increase in heart rate or systolicpressure of > 20% from baseline was found in two patients in the ephedrine group and in one patient in the placebo group. Conclusions: Weconclude that ephedrine 45mg administered in the paravertebral muscles immediately after plain bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia is a simpleand effective means of reducing the incidence of hypotensive episodes in the elderly patient.