Studying Some of the Hemodynamic Effects of Adding Epinephrine to Lidocaine for Spinal Anesthesia

Increasing use of regional anesthesia instead of general anesthesia may be the most important factor in decreasing anesthetic difficulties (e.g. difficult intubations, aspiration pneumonia, and analgesic side effect) in caesarean section. Quality of regional anesthesia is improved by adding morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil. The function of Epinephrine is dose-dependent. For instance, in small dosage, it has stimulating effects on Beta1 and Beta2 causing venous stasis to minimize. However, in large doses, Epinephrine’s Alfa adrenergic is dominant. This study aimed at investigating the potential hemodynamic effects of adding Epinephrine to lidocaine during spinal anesthesia on expecting mothers who are candidates of caesarean section.This study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial on 100 pregnant women who were candidates for caesarean section with ASA class I, II in the year of 1387. The subjects of the study were divided into two groups, (1) and (2) on the basis of the randomized digital table as follows: Group 1:80 mg lidocaine 5% +2 micro gram sufentanil Group2: 80 mg lidocaine 5% +2 micro gram sufentanyl + 0.2 mg (0.2cc) Epinephrine. Both groups received the drugs intrathecally. Vital signs such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse rate and SPO2 were recorded both before the anesthesia and thereafter every 5 minutes until the end of the operation. The measuring procedure continued during and after the recovery stage. Besides, the side effects and the drugs needed were recorded.According to the findings in this study, there werent any significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, weight, ASA, NPO timing and the previous surgery. There werent any significant differences between the two groups of the study in terms of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, either. However, some hypotension was noted in Adrenaline group. Also, there werent any significant differences in PR but some bradycardia was seen in Adrenaline group, too. There werent any significant differences in SPO2 and side effects (nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, respiratory disorder, shivering) between the two groups.Adding Epinephrine to Lidocaine 5% increased the duration of spinal aesthesia in caesarean section whereas no significant difference was observed in terms of hemodynamic and side effects. Nevertheless, regarding the emergence of hypotension and bradycardia observed in the Adrenaline group, no matter how rare, close control of hemodynamic in this group is essential.