A randomised double-blind comparison of phenylephrine and norepinephrine for the management of postspinal hypotension in pre-eclamptic patients undergoing caesarean section

BACKGROUND Studies comparing phenylephrine and norepinephrine for the treatment of postspinal hypotension in pre-eclamptic patients are limited. OBJECTIVE To compare bolus doses of phenylephrine and norepinephrine for treating hypotension in pre-eclamptic mothers undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. It was hypothesised that norepinephrine and phenylephrine use would be associated with similar neonatal outcome. DESIGN Randomised controlled study. SETTING Single centre, tertiary care, university teaching hospital, from December 2018 to March 2020. PATIENTS A total of 86 women with pre-eclampsia and a singleton pregnancy who developed postspinal hypotension during caesarean section. INTERVENTIONS Patients received intravenous phenylephrine (50 μg) or norepinephrine (4 μg) for treatment of hypotension, defined as a fall in baseline systolic BP by ≥ 20% or an absolute value 
Source: European Journal of Anaesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Obstetrics Source Type: research