Background: During spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery phenylephrine is the vasopressor of choice but can cause bradycardia. Norepinephrine has both β- and α-adrenergic activity suitable for maintaining blood pressure with less bradycardia. We hypothesized that norepinephrine would be superior to phenylephrine, requiring fewer rescue bolus interventions to maintain blood pressure.
Methods: Eighty-five parturients having spinal anesthesia for elective cesarean delivery were randomized to Group P (phenylephrine 0.1μg/kg/min) or Group N (norepinephrine 0.05μg/kg/min) fixed-rate infusions. Rescue bolus interventions of phenylephrine 100μg for hypotension, or ephedrine 5mg for bradycardia with hypotension, were given as required to maintain systolic blood pressure. Maternal hemodynamic variables were measured non-invasively.
Results: There was no difference between groups in the proportion of patients who required rescue vasopressor boluses (Group P: 65.8% [n=25] vs. Group N: 48.8% [n=21], P=0.12). The proportion of patients who received ⩾1 bolus of phenylephrine was similar between groups (Group P: 52.6% [n=20] vs. Group N: 46.5% [n=20], P=0.58). However, more patients received ⩾1 bolus of ephedrine in the phenylephrine group (Group P: 23.7% [n=9] vs. Group N: 2.3% [n=1], P<0.01). The incidence of emesis was greater in the phenylephrine group (Group P: 26.3% vs. Group P: 16.3%, P<0.001). Hemodynamic parameters including heart rate, the incidence of bradycardia, blood pressure, cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistance and neonatal outcome were similar between groups (all P<0.05).
Conclusion: Norepinephrine fixed-rate infusion has efficacy for preventing hypotension and can be considered as an alternative to phenylephrine.
Keywords: Cesarean delivery; Norepinephrine; Phenylephrine; Spinal anesthesia.
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