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A Comparison of Intermittent Intravenous Boluses of Phenylephrine and Norepinephrine to Prevent Spinal-induced Hypotension in Cesarean Deliveries

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Hypotension
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02962986
Lead Sponsor
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital
Brief Summary

Hypotension is a very common complication of spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery, and can have unwanted side effects on both mother and fetus if not treated promptly. Phenylephrine has been the drug of choice to treat this spinal-induced hypotension. Although phenylephrine is safe to use for this indication, it has been associated with reflex bradycardia and a reduction in cardiac output.

Norepinephrine is a potent vasopressor used to treat hypotension in the critical care setting. Recent studies have looked at norepinephrine's use in the obstetric setting, and have shown that it can be used safely and also has favourable hemodynamic properties when compared to phenylephrine, with less bradycardia and less depression of cardiac output.

The investigators recently conducted a study to determine the ED90 of norepinephrine, and now plan to compare bolus doses of phenylephrine to norepinephrine for treating hypotension following spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.

The investigators hypothesize that norepinephrine, when given as a bolus to prevent post spinal hypotension, will result in around 70% relative decrease in the rate of bradycardia when compared to phenylephrine in patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

Detailed Description

Norepinephrine is a potent vasopressor used to treat hypotension in the critical care setting. Recent studies have looked at norepinephrine's use in the obstetric setting, and have shown that it can be used safely and also has favourable hemodynamic properties when compared to phenylephrine, with less bradycardia and less depression of cardiac output. These studies have been limited to using norepinephrine as an infusion and there is limited data with it being used as a bolus to prevent hypotension. A recent study was undertaken at Mount Sinai hospital to determine the ED90 of norepinephrine to treat post spinal hypotension. Secondary outcome data from this trial showed that the incidence of bradycardia associated with this treatment is approximately 7.5%, several times less when compared to the reported 30% with phenylephrine. It would therefore be prudent at this stage to undertake a randomized trial comparing the hemodynamic profile of phenylephrine (our standard practice) and norepinephrine used as intermittent boluses to prevent hypotension and avoid decrease in heart rate during cesarean delivery.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
112
Inclusion Criteria
  • Informed consent
  • Elective CS under spinal anesthesia
  • Normal singleton pregnancy beyond 36 weeks gestation
  • ASA physical status 2-3
  • Current (pregnant) weight 50-100 kg, height 150-180 cm
  • Age over 18 years
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient refusal
  • Inability to communicate in English
  • Allergy or hypersensitivity to phenylephrine
  • Preexisting or pregnancy-induced hypertension
  • Cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease
  • Fetal abnormalities
  • History of diabetes, excluding gestational diabetes
  • Contra-indications for spinal anesthesia
  • Allergy or hypersensitivity to sulfite
  • Use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors, triptyline or imipramine antidepressants
  • Untreated hyperthyroid patients

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
phenylephrine 100mcgPhenylephrinephenylephrine, given as 1mL IV boluses, to treat post-spinal hypotension
norepinephrine 6mcgNorepinephrinenorepinephrine, given as 1mL IV boluses, to treat post-spinal hypotension
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Bradycardia: Heart rate less than 50 bpm30 minutes

Heart rate less than 50 bpm, from induction of spinal anesthesia

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Hypotension: Systolic blood pressure less than 80% of baseline30 minutes

Systolic blood pressure below 80% of baseline, from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Presence of nausea30 minutes

Presence of nausea in patients from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Number of hypotensive episodes30 minutes

The number of times the systolic blood pressure measures below 80% of baseline, from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Umbilical artery base excess (mmol/L)24 hours

Umbilical artery base excess

Hypertension: Systolic blood pressure at or above 120% of baseline30 minutes

Systolic blood pressure at or above 120% of baseline, from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Presence of vomiting30 minutes

Presence of vomiting in patients from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Umbilical artery partial pressure of carbon dioxide24 hours

Umbilical artery partial pressure of carbon dioxide

Umbilical vein base excess (mmol/L)24 hours

Umbilical vein base excess

Tachycardia: Heart rate greater than 30% of baseline30 minutes

Heart rate greater than 30%, from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Number of episodes of nausea30 minutes

The number of episodes of nausea experienced by patients from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Number of episodes of vomiting30 minutes

The number of episodes of vomiting experienced by patients from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Total dose of study drug given30 minutes

Total dose of study drug given from induction of spinal anesthesia to delivery of the fetus.

Umbilical artery partial pressure of oxygen24 hours

Umbilical artery partial pressure of oxygen

Umbilical artery bicarbonate (mmol/L)24 hours

Umbilical artery bicarbonate

Umbilical vein bicarbonate (mmol/L)24 hours

Umbilical vein bicarbonate

Apgar scores1 minute and 5 minutes

The Apgar scores of the infant at 1 and 5 minutes post delivery.

Umbilical artery pH24 hours

Umbilical artery pH

Umbilical vein pH24 hours

Umbilical vein pH

Umbilical vein partial pressure of carbon dioxide24 hours

Umbilical vein partial pressure of carbon dioxide

Umbilical vein partial pressure of oxygen24 hours

Umbilical vein partial pressure of oxygen

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mount Sinai Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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