Fawad Ahmed Khan, Rumina Tabassum, Saleem Sabbar.
Assessment of the effi cacy of single dose of ephedrine given prophylactically to prevent hypotension in patients during spinal anaesthesia.
Pak J Surg Jan ;26(1):61-4.

Objective: Th e aim of the study was to assess the effi cacy of single dose (10mg) of ephedrine given prophylactically to prevent hypotension in patients during spinal anaesthesia. Study design: Quasi experimental Place and duration of surgery: Th is study was conducted at Anaesthesia Department of Lyari General Hospital Karachi over a period of 3 months from May 2008 to July 2008. Patients and methods: In this study sixty patients, who were on operation theatre list under spinal anaesthesia, were divided into two groups. Group I (n=30) received Ringers lactate solution 15 ml/kg as preload and group II (n=30) received Ringers lactate solution 15 ml/kg as preload along with single prophylactic dose of inj ephedrine 10 mg intravenously which was given aft er administering spinal anaesthesia. Data from the patients was recorded on a proforma. Th e comparison was made between groups I and group II. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and oxygen saturation were monitored at 5 minutes interval till the end of surgery. Results: Out of 60 patients 32 were males and 28 were females. 37 patients belonged to American Society of Anaesthetists (ASA)-1 and 23 patients belonged to ASAII. In group I the average age of the patients was 28.12±7.5 while in group II it was 25.32±4.2. Th ere were no signifi cant statistical diff erences for age, weight and height of the patients between two groups. Th e changes in heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were compared between groups, aft er taking baseline readings, at 5 minutes interval till the end of surgery. Th e base line readings were not signifi cantly diff erent statistically but subsequent readings showed signifi cantly low incidence of hypotension in group II as compared to group I. Conclusion: Administration of single prophylactic dose (10mg) of ephedrine prevents hypotension in patients during spinal anaesthesia.

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