Maternal and neonatal effects of bolus administration of ephedrine and phenylephrine during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery: a randomised study

Abstract Background Maternal haemodynamic changes and neonatal well-being following bolus administration of ephedrine and phenylephrine were compared in 60 term parturients undergoing elective caesarean delivery under spinal anaesthesia. Methods In a randomised double-blind study, women received boluses of either ephedrine 6 mg (group E; n=30) or phenylephrine 100 μg (group P; n=30) whenever maternal systolic pressure was ⩽80% of baseline. Results Changes in systolic pressure were comparable in the two groups. There were no differences in the incidence of bradycardia (group E: 0% vs. group P: 16.7%; P >0.05), nausea (group E: 13% vs. group: P 0; P >0.05) and vomiting (group E: 3.3% vs. group P: 0; P >0.05). Umbilical artery (UA) pH (group E: 7.29 ± 0.04 vs. group P: 7.32 ± 0.04; P =0.01) and venous pH (group E: 7.34 ± 0.04 vs. group P: 7.38 ± 0.05; P =0.002) were significantly greater in group P than in group E. UA base excess was significantly less in group E (-2.83 ± 0.94 mEq/L) than in group P (-1.61 ± 1.04 mEq/L; P P >0.05). Conclusions Phenylephrine 100 μg and ephedrine 6 mg had similar efficacy in the treatment of maternal hypotension during spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean delivery. Neonates in group P had significantly higher umbilical arterial pH and base excess values than those in group E, which is consistent with other studies.