SPINAL ANESTHESIA

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study is to compare and assess the sensoryand motor block along with the associated hemodynamic changes that occur in the patientpopulation operated for a lower segment cesarean section (LSCS), when they are given 0.5%hyperbaric bupivacaine versus 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine as used for spinal anesthesia.Study Design: Prospective double blind randomized trial. Period: 6 months duration fromApril 2014 to September 2014. Setting: A tertiary care hospital in the city of Karachi, Pakistan.Method: The study population consisted of 60 patients belonging to the ASA 1 and ASA 2category, who underwent a lower segment cesarean section, and comparative analysis ofthe efficacy and associated hemodynamic changes of hyperbaric with isobaric bupivacaine.The patient population was segmented into two groups both groups containing 30 patients,group A receiving hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% as 2.5ml ( 12.5mg dose ) and the secondgroup designated as, group B receiving isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% as 2.5ml ( 12.5mg dose)intrathecally. The resultant sensory and motor blockade was determined using pin prick andbromage scale respectively. Results: There was a significant difference found among the twogroups under study, when compared at 3min interval regarding the sensory blockade. The levelof T6 block was reached in 33.33% (n=10) patients belonging to group A and 56.66% (n= 17)patients in group B. It was observed that there was no significant change among the two groupsat 5min interval regarding sensory and motor blockade respectively. The immediate sensoryblockade with isobaric bupivacaine in group B produced greater decrease in the systolic andmean arterial blood pressure when contrasted with hyperbaric bupivacaine in group A at 5mininterval, but after time interval of 45min there was no statistically significant change observed.Conclusions: According to our study the effects of isobaric bupivacaine were more significantlypredictable; hence have a higher efficacy, when contrasted against hyperbaric bupivacainein lower section cesarean section spinal anesthesia. Quick sensory blockade with isobaricbupivacaine was associated with more decrease in blood pressures when contrasted with thehyperbaric bupivacaine, but this result is not statistically significant.