W H L Teoh1, F Ithnin, A T H Sia. 1. Department of Women's Anesthesia, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. teohwendy@yahoo.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We postulated that a spinal dose of hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 microg administered for cesarean section would yield an equivalent sensory block height and provide sufficient analgesia if administered within 48 h of delivery for postpartum tubal ligation. METHOD: 20 women undergoing postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL) within 48 h of vaginal delivery and 20 undergoing cesarean section (CS) were recruited. Spinal anesthesia was induced with intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 microg at L3/4 with patients in the right lateral position. RESULTS: Baseline demographics of groups were comparable, but tubal ligation patients had greater parity, with a mean+/-SD 14.5+/-7.5 h from delivery to spinal anesthesia, and shorter duration of surgery, 21.4+/-7.6 vs. 35.3+/-11.3 min. Maximal sensory block was higher in group CS than PPTL, T2 (T1-T4) vs. T3 (T2-T5), P=0.001; time to reach maximal level did not differ significantly, (6.9+/-3.9 vs. 8.7+/-2.8 min, P=0.091). There was no difference in time for spinal block to recede two segments or to T10, and for motor block recovery to Bromage 2, all P>0.05. More CS patients were hypotensive (80% vs. 45%, P=0.048) and had intraoperative nausea (25% vs. 0%, P=0.047), but mean phenylephrine and ephedrine usage did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: An equivalent dose of hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 microg for both CS and PPTL resulted in a higher sensory block, more hypotension and nausea in CS patients. The studied regimen might be appropriate for PPTL, but appears excessive for CS.
BACKGROUND: We postulated that a spinal dose of hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 microg administered for cesarean section would yield an equivalent sensory block height and provide sufficient analgesia if administered within 48 h of delivery for postpartum tubal ligation. METHOD: 20 women undergoing postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL) within 48 h of vaginal delivery and 20 undergoing cesarean section (CS) were recruited. Spinal anesthesia was induced with intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 microg at L3/4 with patients in the right lateral position. RESULTS: Baseline demographics of groups were comparable, but tubal ligation patients had greater parity, with a mean+/-SD 14.5+/-7.5 h from delivery to spinal anesthesia, and shorter duration of surgery, 21.4+/-7.6 vs. 35.3+/-11.3 min. Maximal sensory block was higher in group CS than PPTL, T2 (T1-T4) vs. T3 (T2-T5), P=0.001; time to reach maximal level did not differ significantly, (6.9+/-3.9 vs. 8.7+/-2.8 min, P=0.091). There was no difference in time for spinal block to recede two segments or to T10, and for motor block recovery to Bromage 2, all P>0.05. More CS patients were hypotensive (80% vs. 45%, P=0.048) and had intraoperative nausea (25% vs. 0%, P=0.047), but mean phenylephrine and ephedrine usage did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: An equivalent dose of hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 microg for both CS and PPTL resulted in a higher sensory block, more hypotension and nausea in CS patients. The studied regimen might be appropriate for PPTL, but appears excessive for CS.