COMPARISON OF AN EPHEDRINE INFUSION WITH CRYSTALLOID ADMINISTRATION FOR PREVENTION OF HYPOTENSION DURING SPINAL-ANESTHESIA

This study was designed to compare the efficacy of an ephedrine infusi on with crystalloid administration for reducing the incidence of hypot ension during spinal anesthesia. Fifty-four ASA I patients scheduled f or postpartum tubal ligations under spinal anesthesia were randomly al located to receive either 15 mL/kg of crystalloid (crystalloid group) or an ephedrine infusion (infusion group). Spinal anesthesia was perfo rmed using 70-90 mg of hyperbaric 5% lidocaine. Patients in the infusi on group immediately thereafter received an ephedrine infusion at a ra te of 5 mg/min for the first 2 min and then 1 mg/min for the next 18 m in. The incidence of hypotension was 15/27 (55%) in the crystalloid gr oup and 6/27 (22%) in the infusion group (P < 0.05). There was no sign ificant difference between the groups in relation to the level of anes thesia or maximal heart rate, and hypertension did not occur in either group. We conclude that a prophylactic ephedrine infusion is effectiv e for minimizing and managing hypotension associated with spinal anest hesia and compares favorably with crystalloid administration in this p atient population in terms of efficacy and incidence of side effects.