Large Dose Bupivacaine 0.5% versus Small Dose in Elective Cesarean Section

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The spinal anesthesia in a cesarean section is still presenting a challenge to the anesthetist in the form of either severe hypotension from large bupivacaine dose or insufficient satisfactory anesthesia level conditions as a result of small bupivacaine dose. In this study, we tried to solve this challenge by increasing the dose of bupivacaine to achieve a proper spinal level accompanied by prolonged sitting up to avoid hypotension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 53 patients in this study whom were randomly divided into two groups, namely Group B and Group C. In Group B (25 patients), each patient received 3 mL of bupivacaine and left 5 min sitting up, whereas in Group C (28 patients), each patient received 2.5 mL of bupivacaine and was asked to lie supine immediately. Both groups were tested for hypotension, ephedrine dose, and sensory block level. RESULTS: The present study showed a statistically significant lower dose of ephedrine which was given in Group B (7.2 ± 15.684 mg in Group B versus 27.86 ± 12.04 mg in Group C with P < 0.05). The proper anesthesia level was achieved equally in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Large dose 15 mg of bupivacaine with the prolonged sitting position will lead to fewer incidences of hypotension and proper anesthesia block.