COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF PHENYLEPHRINE AND EPHEDRINE ON UMBILICALARTERIAL BLOOD GAS PARAMETERS IN ELECTIVE CAESAREAN SECTION UNDER LUMBAR SUBARACHNOID BLOCK

Abstract

Introduction: Potential side effects such as supraventricular tachycardia, tachyphylaxis, and most importantly, fetal acidosis render the use of ephedrine as a rst line agent to treat hypotension in obstetric patient debatable. Phenylephrine, an alternative drug, has a reduced incidence of nausea and vomiting as well as decreased fetal acidosis, which gives it an advantage over the use of ephedrine. Materials and methods: We conducted an observational study in 68 ASA II patients scheduled for lower segment caesarean section. Parturients who satised the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned into one of the two groups of 34 each- group P with parturients who were to receive phenylephrine boluses in 100 mcg increments and group E with parturients who were to receive ephedrine boluses in 6mg increments when they developed hypotension. Fetal umbilical arterial blood gas was analyzed and parameters were compared. Results: On analyzing umbilical arterial blood values, a lower mean pH was found in group E (7.27± 0.09) when compared to group P (7.3± 0.04). Also a higher PCO value (49± 7.4) was found in group E when compared to group P (43.9 ± 6.4). Other umbilical arterial blood gas values were 2 comparable between both groups