CRYSTALLOID PRELOAD SHOWS TRANSIENT SUPERIORITY OVER COLLOID, OR THEIR COMBINATION IN SPINAL ANAESTHESIA-INDUCED HYPOTENSION PROPHYLAXIS FOR CAESAREAN SECTION

Abstract

Background: Many studies comparing different intravenous fluid types usually do not use equipotent volumes of 3:1 crystalloid: colloid ratio in such comparisons. Conflicting results emanate from such studies. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of equipotent volumes of crystalloid, colloid and combination of crystalloid/colloid in spinal anaesthesia-induced hypotension prophylaxis.

Methodology: Pregnant women scheduled for elective Caesarean section were prospectively randomized to three groups to each received either 1 500 ml of Ringers lactate, or 500 ml of 6% pentastarch or a combination of 250 ml of 6% pentastarch and 750 ml of Ringers lactate intravenous fluid preload, before spinal anaesthesia. Hemodynamic variables were monitored.

Results: First 10 minutes, crystalloid showed better efficacy in hypotension prophylaxis over the other regimen. In the next 30 minutes however, there were no significant differences between the groups.

Conclusion: Crystalloids proved more effective than colloid or their combination in hypotension prophylaxis in the first 10 minutes after spinal anaesthesia.