Olivier Lairez1, Fabrice Ferré2, Nicolas Portet2, Philippe Marty2, Clément Delmas3, Thomas Cognet4, Matt Kurrek5, Didier Carrié4, Olivier Fourcade2, Vincent Minville6. 1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Toulouse University Hospital, 1, avenue Jean-Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France; Department of Cardiology, Toulouse University Hospital, 1, avenue Jean-Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France. 2. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Toulouse-Rangueil, University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31000 Toulouse, France. 3. Department of Cardiology, Toulouse University Hospital, 1, avenue Jean-Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France; Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Toulouse-Rangueil, University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31000 Toulouse, France. 4. Department of Cardiology, Toulouse University Hospital, 1, avenue Jean-Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France. 5. Department of Anaesthesia, University of Toronto, 150, College Street, Room 121, Fitzgerald Building, Toronto M5S 3E2, Ontario, Canada. 6. Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Toulouse-Rangueil, University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, 31000 Toulouse, France. Electronic address: minville.v@chu-toulouse.fr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Spinal anaesthesia (SA) is a widely used technique of regional anaesthesia but hypotension is an adverse effect commonly observed, especially in elderly patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the cardiovascular effects induced by a single injection of a low-dose SA during elective surgery by using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and to compare these effects in patients older and younger than 70 years of age. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Single centre university hospital. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six patients scheduled for surgery under SA were included in the study (25 patients<70 years and 21 patients ≥ 70 years). INTERVENTION(S): A cardiologist, blinded to all clinical parameters, interpreted the TTE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two TTEs were performed for each patient: one at baseline before and the second 20 minutes after the placement of the SA. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of patients became hypotensive in the ≥ 70 years group whereas no episode of hypotension occurred in the<70 years group (P<0.0001). At baseline (i.e. prior to SA), when compared to younger patients, elderly patients had both a lower E/A ratio (0.8 [0.5-2.1] vs. 1.4 [0.7-1.6], P=0.001) as well as a lower LVEF (50.4% [37.7-72.3] vs. 60.9% [44.8-69.8], P<0.0001). SA in the elderly induced a larger decrease in the cardiac index (CI) (-0.5 L·min(-1)·m(-2) [-0.8 to -0.3] vs. -0.2 L·min(-1)·m(-2) [-0.8-0.1], P<0.0001), LV stroke volume (-8mL [-13-4] vs. -2mL [-14 to -1], P<0.0001) and systemic vascular resistances (SVR) (-2.2 WU [-6.7-0.3] vs. -0.8 WU [-2.3-0.1], P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Hypotension is more frequent among elderly patients, even after low-dose SA. Known age-related changes in cardiovascular performance, such as impaired myocardial relaxation and decreased systolic function could be responsible for the decrease in cardiac output (CO) and SVR seen in these patients.
BACKGROUND: Spinal anaesthesia (SA) is a widely used technique of regional anaesthesia but hypotension is an adverse effect commonly observed, especially in elderly patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the cardiovascular effects induced by a single injection of a low-dose SA during elective surgery by using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and to compare these effects in patients older and younger than 70 years of age. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Single centre university hospital. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Forty-six patients scheduled for surgery under SA were included in the study (25 patients<70 years and 21 patients ≥ 70 years). INTERVENTION(S): A cardiologist, blinded to all clinical parameters, interpreted the TTE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two TTEs were performed for each patient: one at baseline before and the second 20 minutes after the placement of the SA. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of patients became hypotensive in the ≥ 70 years group whereas no episode of hypotension occurred in the<70 years group (P<0.0001). At baseline (i.e. prior to SA), when compared to younger patients, elderly patients had both a lower E/A ratio (0.8 [0.5-2.1] vs. 1.4 [0.7-1.6], P=0.001) as well as a lower LVEF (50.4% [37.7-72.3] vs. 60.9% [44.8-69.8], P<0.0001). SA in the elderly induced a larger decrease in the cardiac index (CI) (-0.5 L·min(-1)·m(-2) [-0.8 to -0.3] vs. -0.2 L·min(-1)·m(-2) [-0.8-0.1], P<0.0001), LV stroke volume (-8mL [-13-4] vs. -2mL [-14 to -1], P<0.0001) and systemic vascular resistances (SVR) (-2.2 WU [-6.7-0.3] vs. -0.8 WU [-2.3-0.1], P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Hypotension is more frequent among elderly patients, even after low-dose SA. Known age-related changes in cardiovascular performance, such as impaired myocardial relaxation and decreased systolic function could be responsible for the decrease in cardiac output (CO) and SVR seen in these patients.