Comparison of 1- and 2-Minute Sitting Positions Versus Immediately Lying Down on Hemodynamic Variables After Spinal Anesthesia with Hyperbaric Bupivacaine in Elective Cesarean Section

Hypotension is one of the most common complications of spinal anesthesia in parturients undergoing cesarean section. In this regard, the patient’s position may affect the incidence of hypotension.
In this clinical trial, we evaluated the effects of 1- and 2-minute sitting positions versus immediately lying down after spinal anesthesia on hypotension and vasopressor requirements.
A total of 72 parturients, scheduled for cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, were randomly divided into 3 groups (24 subjects per group). Groups S1 and S2 remained in a sitting position for 1 and 2 minutes after the induction of spinal anesthesia, respectively, while group T was immediately placed in a lying position. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, as well as heart rate, was recorded at 1, 2, 3, and 5 minutes after anesthesia induction, every 5 minutes during the first 30 minutes of surgery, and then every 10 minutes until the end of surgery. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The overall frequency of hypotension was 50 (69%) cases during surgery; the reported frequency was higher in group T in comparison with group S2 (P = 0.003). The frequency of hypotension before delivery (the first 5 minutes after spinal anesthesia) was 40 (55%) cases, with a higher frequency reported in group T (20, 83%), compared to groups S1 (12, 50%) and S2 (8, 33%) (P = 0.03 and P = 0.001, respectively). The ephedrine requirement in group T (11.73 ± 7.16 mg) was higher than the other two groups (8.69 ± 7.57 and 7.82±7.95 mg in groups S1 and S2, respectively); nevertheless, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.19). Moreover, the difference in time to achieve T6 sensory level was only significant between group T (3.25 ± 1.1 minutes) and group S2 (4.73 ± 1.73 minutes) (P = 0.03).
The present study showed that 1- or 2-minute sitting position after spinal anesthesia with 2.5 cc of hyperbaric bupivacaine in elective cesarean section results in more hemodynamic stability, compared with immediately lying down.