Neonatal effects after vasopressor during spinal anesthesia for cesarean section: a multicenter,randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPlacental transfer of ephedrine causes fetal effects when compared with phenylephrine. This study compared their drug effects on neonatal parameters after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.MethodsThree-hundred-and-fifty-four women undergoing elective cesarean delivery who needed intravenous vasopressor following spinal anesthesia were randomized into two groups. Group E received boluses of ephedrine 6 mg, and Group P phenylephrine 100 µg, titrated to maintain systolic blood pressure near baseline values. Neonatal heart rates at 10 and 30–45 min of age, oxygen saturation and capillary blood glucose at 30 min, and capillary blood lactate and urine metamphetamine were recorded.ResultsNeonatal heart rate at 10 min was significantly higher (mean difference 4.0, 95%CI 0.6 to 7.3, P=0.02) in Group E versus Group P, but this was not clinically relevant. There was a linear correlation between neonatal heart rate at 10 min and ephedrine dose in Group E (r²=0.29, 95%CI 0.22, 0.74, p <0.01). The decremental changes in neonatal heart rate at 10 and 30 min were significantly greater in Group E. Urine metamphetamine tests were positive in 19% of 44 neonatal urine samples. Neonatal heart rates at 30 min, oxygen saturation, capillary blood glucose and the incidence of tachycardia, respiratory problems or abnormal glucose, were not significantly different.ConclusionsEphedrine, compared to phenylephrine as a vasopressor during cesarean delivery, was associated with higher neonatal heart rate in the early post-birth period, but without a significant difference in clinical outcomes in uncomplicated pregnancies.