Preoperative ondansetron and ephedrine requirements during spinal anesthesia for cesarean sections
The current work was aimed to revealed the preoperative ondansetron and ephedrine requirements during spinal anesthesia for cesarean sections. The study is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial. From April 2023 to April 2024, the study was conducted in Al-Shifa Private Hospital in Baqubah, Diyala. The current study comprised a total of 135 pregnant women who were scheduled for a caesarian section under spinal anesthesia. The women were placed into three equal groups at random, with Group N serving as the control group and receiving 10 mL of 0.9% normal saline with or without ephedrine. Ephedrine 10 mg was given to Group E, diluted to 10 mL in 0.9% normal saline. Ondansetron 8 mg was given to Group O, either with or without ephedrine, and diluted to 10 mL in 0.9% normal saline. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure at baseline readings did not differ substantially (P>0.05); however, during follow-up, the ondansetron group's blood pressure was significantly higher than the ephedrine groups. In terms of heart rate, the mean heart rate for both drugs was not significant different at baseline (P>0.05); however, during follow-up, the ephedrine group's heart rate was significantly greater than the ondansetron groups. Additionally, the results demonstrate that shivering was observed in 14(10.4%) patients in the saline group and 3(2.2%), 6(4.4%), and 6(4.4%) subjects in the Ondansetron and Ephedrine groups, respectively (P=0.041). Regarding bradycardia and discomfort, the three groups also did not significantly change (P>0.05). The saline group experienced a considerably higher rate of nausea and vomiting (15.6%) in comparison to the ephedrine (9.6%) and Ondansetron (3.0%) groups (P=0.001). Bradycardia was observed in the saline group at 3.0%, whereas it was 1.5% in the ephedrine group and 0.0% in the Ondansetron group (P=0.071). In the saline group (14.1%), ephedrine was required substantially more than in the Ondansetron group (1.5%; P=0.001). Our findings indicate that administering ephedrine 10 mg or ondansetron 8 mg just after spinal anesthesia during an elective cesarean delivery can significantly impact the mother's blood pressure, heart rate, and other related issues, ondansetron reduces the need for ephedrine during operation.