The Effect Of Maintaining Normal Mean Arterial Blood Pressure On The Incidence Of Intraoperative Emetic Episodes During Spinal Anaesthesia

Abstract

Objective : To evaluate the effect of maintaining normal mean arterial blood pressure on the incidence of intraoperative emetic episodes in patient undergoing lower limbs orthopaedic surgeries under spinal anaesthesia .
Method : .60 Patients were randomly divided into two groups each composed of 30 patients . Group( A) received ephedrine 15 mg intravenously immediately after spinal anaesthesia with 2ml Bupivacaine 0.5% while group ( B ) received normal saline instead of ephedrine immediately after spinal anaesthesia with the same local anaesthetic . Baseline and frequent subsequent reading of mean arterial blood pressure , pulse rate , oxygen saturation , number and severity of intraoperative emetic episodes were noted .
Results : No significant difference between the two groups regarding the incidence of emetic episodes that need a treatment with an anti-emetics . However the total number of cases associated with an intraoperative emetic episodes is obviously less in group (A) than group ( B) .
Conclusion : the anti-emetic drug(s) as a prophylactic for intraoperative emetic episodes is necessary even when the mean arterial blood pressure is maintained during spinal anaesthesia .Further studies in this aspect is needed .