Acute Hydration for Prevention of Hypotension of Spinal Anesthesia in Parturients

Abstract

Sixteen parturient patients were hydrated with 1,000 ml of 5% dextrose in lacted Ringer''s solution, infused over a period of 14 to 20 min. Central venous pressure rose an average of only 2 cm H2O whether labor was present or not. Those patients who underwent cesarean section under spinal block with sensory levels at T2 to T6 had no significant arterial hypotension, although central venous pressure was depressed, 4 of 5 nonhydrated patients, similarly anesthetized, had decreases in central venous pressure and blood pressure decreases which were significant, but which responded to infusion of 1,000 ml of 5% dextrose in lactated Ringer''s solution. These decreases in blood pressure were not seen in 5 patients whose anesthetic levels were T9 to T10, although central venous pressure did fall significantly. Neonates of mothers in whom hypotension was prevented had significantly shorter "times to sustained respiration" than infants whose mothers were hypotensive for any period of time.