Spinal anesthesia for lower segment Cesarean section in patients with stable eclampsia

Study ObjectiveTo report the use of spinal anesthesia in stable eclamptic patients.DesignProspective case series.SettingEmergency operating room of a metropolitan hospital.Patients12 “stable” eclamptic parturients.InterventionsSubarachnoid block was instituted with hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine 1.7 mL with fentanyl 25 μg.MeasurementsIntraoperative maternal hypotension, episodes of convulsion, the need to convert to general anesthesia, and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were recorded.Main ResultsOnly one of the 12 parturients had an episode of hypotension (treated by intravenous ephedrine), while no patient had a convulsion over the 48 hours after delivery. The sensory level achieved was T5-T6 and none of the cases was converted to general anesthesia. Median Apgar scores at 1 and 5 minutes were 8 and 9, respectively.ConclusionSpinal anesthesia avoided the known risks of general anesthesia and was not associated with any major complications.