Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled study

Background and Aims: Various strategies to improve haemodynamics to avoid hypotension following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section are reported. Uterine contractions induced with oxytocin lead to autotransfusion that may aid in maintaining blood pressure by increasing preload. This study aimed...

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Main Authors: Ram Jeevan, Pankaj Kundra, Sandeep Mishra, Dilip Kumar Maurya, Anish Keepanasseril
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Indian Journal of Anaesthesia
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ija.ija_1062_24
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author Ram Jeevan
Pankaj Kundra
Sandeep Mishra
Dilip Kumar Maurya
Anish Keepanasseril
author_facet Ram Jeevan
Pankaj Kundra
Sandeep Mishra
Dilip Kumar Maurya
Anish Keepanasseril
author_sort Ram Jeevan
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aims: Various strategies to improve haemodynamics to avoid hypotension following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section are reported. Uterine contractions induced with oxytocin lead to autotransfusion that may aid in maintaining blood pressure by increasing preload. This study aimed to compare the haemodynamic effects of initiating prophylactic oxytocin infusion preoperatively versus starting it after foetal delivery among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Methods: In this randomised controlled study, women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were assigned following simple randomisation to receive either oxytocin infusion at the rate of 6 milli-IU/min (Group O) or only normal saline alone (Group C), started before spinal anaesthesia, along with both receiving preloading with normal saline infusion. Hypotension was treated with a bolus dose of intravenous phenylephrine. Changes in the haemodynamic parameters, heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure and non-invasive cardiac output (CO) indices (CO and stroke volume) assessed using a non-invasive CO monitor were compared between groups. Results: Hypotension occurred in 19 women in Group C (59.4%) compared to three in Group O (8.6%). A significant fall in SBP and CO was observed in Group C compared to Group O (P < 0.001). Phenylephrine requirement was significantly higher in Group C [21.9 (21.4, 95% confidence interval {CI} 13.6, 28.2)] compared to Group O [1.7 (5.7, 95% CI: 0.2, 3.7)] (P < 0.001). The total dose of oxytocin was significantly higher in Group C (median 10 IU, range: 8–13) versus Group O (median 5 IU, range: 0–5) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative prophylactic oxytocin infusion provides better haemodynamic stability in women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia and reduces the incidence of hypotension and the requirement for phenylephrine.
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spelling doaj-art-aeee529e61f6488eaa38f3be6b15eb382025-08-20T02:25:13ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Anaesthesia0019-50490976-28172025-04-0169434334910.4103/ija.ija_1062_24Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled studyRam JeevanPankaj KundraSandeep MishraDilip Kumar MauryaAnish KeepanasserilBackground and Aims: Various strategies to improve haemodynamics to avoid hypotension following spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section are reported. Uterine contractions induced with oxytocin lead to autotransfusion that may aid in maintaining blood pressure by increasing preload. This study aimed to compare the haemodynamic effects of initiating prophylactic oxytocin infusion preoperatively versus starting it after foetal delivery among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Methods: In this randomised controlled study, women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were assigned following simple randomisation to receive either oxytocin infusion at the rate of 6 milli-IU/min (Group O) or only normal saline alone (Group C), started before spinal anaesthesia, along with both receiving preloading with normal saline infusion. Hypotension was treated with a bolus dose of intravenous phenylephrine. Changes in the haemodynamic parameters, heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure and non-invasive cardiac output (CO) indices (CO and stroke volume) assessed using a non-invasive CO monitor were compared between groups. Results: Hypotension occurred in 19 women in Group C (59.4%) compared to three in Group O (8.6%). A significant fall in SBP and CO was observed in Group C compared to Group O (P < 0.001). Phenylephrine requirement was significantly higher in Group C [21.9 (21.4, 95% confidence interval {CI} 13.6, 28.2)] compared to Group O [1.7 (5.7, 95% CI: 0.2, 3.7)] (P < 0.001). The total dose of oxytocin was significantly higher in Group C (median 10 IU, range: 8–13) versus Group O (median 5 IU, range: 0–5) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative prophylactic oxytocin infusion provides better haemodynamic stability in women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia and reduces the incidence of hypotension and the requirement for phenylephrine.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ija.ija_1062_24caesarean sectioncardiac outputhaemodynamic parametershypotensionoxytocinphenylephrinepreloadingspinal anaesthesia
spellingShingle Ram Jeevan
Pankaj Kundra
Sandeep Mishra
Dilip Kumar Maurya
Anish Keepanasseril
Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled study
Indian Journal of Anaesthesia
caesarean section
cardiac output
haemodynamic parameters
hypotension
oxytocin
phenylephrine
preloading
spinal anaesthesia
title Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled study
title_full Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled study
title_fullStr Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled study
title_full_unstemmed Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled study
title_short Effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia: A randomised controlled study
title_sort effect of preoperative oxytocin infusion on haemodynamics among women undergoing elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia a randomised controlled study
topic caesarean section
cardiac output
haemodynamic parameters
hypotension
oxytocin
phenylephrine
preloading
spinal anaesthesia
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ija.ija_1062_24
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