DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2021.v07i11.009

Pages: 627-631

Introduction: Phenylephrine and ephedrine are the first-line vasopressors used in obstetric anesthesia to manage maternal hypotension, but phenylephrine is sometimes associated with maternal cardiac depression, limiting its use among mothers with cardiac comorbidities. The use of ephedrine is generally associated with maternal tachycardia along with a decrease in fetal pH. Norepinephrine is another vasopressor that has recently been introduced in obstetrical anesthesia and has attracted increasing attention as a feasible substitute for these two molecules in this context. The objective of our study is to compare two vasopressor agents (norepinephrine vs ephedrine) dedicated to the treatement of post-spinal anesthesia hypotension, and then to define the place of norepinephrine in the pharmacopoeia of the latter. Materials and Method: A Randomized controlled study of 80 ASAI parturient randomized to receive either 8µg boluses of norepinephrine (NG)or 6mg boluses of ephedrine(EG).The criteria for judgment included the occurrence of tachycardia, the maintenance of blood pressure, and the number of boluses required, as well as the clinical condition of the neonate. Results: The incidence of tachycardia (HR>80bpm) was lower in NG (18%) compared to that in EG(67.6%) p=0.0001, crude Odds Ratio 14.968 95% CI] 4.924, 45.505[ . Six in NG (12%) and eight in EG (26.7%) patients experienced nausea, OR 2.667 95% CI] 0.823-8.641[while only three in NG (6%), and four EG (13%) patients experienced vomiting p=0.41 OR:2.41 CI 95% ]0.501-11.605[. Blood pressure was stablefor both groups but with a superiority of norepinephrine which allowed more marked maintenance: 75% to 112% of the initial systolic value in NG versus 72% to 100% in EG), the difference was highly significant p<0.0001. No significant differences in neonatal outcomes were observed. Conclusion: Norepinephrine can maintain blood pressure more effectively than ephedrine with less incidence of tachycardia .............