Influence of administration of 1 % glucose solution on neonatal blood glucose concentration in cesarean section

Effect of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate Loading on Body Temperature During Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia for Elective Cesarean Delivery

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative hypothermia is a common complication after neuraxial block in cesarean delivery. At least 1 animal study has found that carbohydrate loading can maintain the body temperature of rats during general anesthesia, but it is unclear whether carbohydrate loading is beneficial for body temperature maintenance in parturient women during combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) for elective cesarean delivery.

METHODS

Women undergoing elective cesarean delivery were randomized into a control group (group C), an oral carbohydrate group (group OC), or an oral placebo group (group OP), with 40 women in each group. Core body temperature (Tc) and body surface temperature (Ts) before and after cesarean delivery, changes in Tc (ΔTc) and Ts (ΔTs), and the incidence of side effects (eg, intraoperative shivering) were compared among the groups.

RESULTS

The postoperative Tc (core body temperature after cesarean delivery [Tc2]) of group OC (36.48 [0.48]°C) was higher than those of group C (35.95 [0.55]°C; P < .001), and group OP (36.03 [0.49]°C; P = .001). The ΔTc (0.30 [0.39]°C) in group OC was significantly smaller than those in group C (0.73 [0.40]°C; P = .001) and group OP (0.63 [0.46]°C; P = .0048).

CONCLUSIONS

Oral carbohydrate loading 2 hours before surgery facilitated body temperature maintenance during CSEA for elective cesarean delivery.

Effect of Glucose Containing Crystalloid Infusion on Maternal Hemodynamic Status After Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section

Background

Despite preventive strategies, hypotension is the most common complication of spinal anesthesia in cesarean section.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of glucose-containing crystalloid infusion on maternal hemodynamic status after spinal anesthesia for cesarean section.

Methods

In this prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 80 parturients undergoing elective cesarean section with spinal anesthesia were studied. In group A (n = 40) ringer with 1% glucose solution (10 gr glucose in 1000 mL ringer) and in group B (n = 40) only ringer solution infused before and after spinal anesthesia. Demographic data, hemodynamic change, complications and their treatments, maternal blood sugar level and neonatal APGAR (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration) score, intraoperative fluid, duration of surgery, and anesthesia were recorded in the two groups.

Results

The incidence of hypotension in group A was significantly lower than group B (27.5% vs 75%) (P = 0.002). Other complications (sustained hypotension, nausea, pallor, and shivering were significantly lower in parturients of the group A (P < 0.05). Maternal blood sugar (BS), before and after surgery, was not significantly different in the two groups (P = 0.207 and P = 0.239, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in the APGAR score of neonates at the 1st and 5th minutes of the birth between the two groups (P = 0.076).

Conclusions

It seems that adding 1% glucose to crystalloid solution improves the hemodynamic status and decreases post-spinal anesthesia complications without significant changes in the maternal blood sugar level and APGAR score of neonates.

Influence of saline-based hydroxyethyl starch on umbilical cord blood electrolytes

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is widely used to prevent and treat spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension during cesarean section. However, the use of saline-based HES may lead to hyperchloremia. This study aimed to clarify the effects of saline-based HES on umbilical cord chloride level at delivery. We retrospectively analyzed 93 consecutive single-pregnancy patients who underwent cesarean section with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. The patients were divided into two groups, depending on the use of 6% HES 130/0.4: group A (461 ± 167 ml of saline-based HES was administered; 43 patients) and group B (HES not administered; 50 patients). The major outcome was umbilical cord chloride level at delivery. The volume infused from operating room admission until delivery was not significantly different between groups. The umbilical cord chloride level at delivery was statistically significantly higher in group A than in group B, but clinically similar (108 ± 2 vs. 107 ± 2 mmol/l, P = 0.02). No differences were observed in the Apgar score or other umbilical cord laboratory data at delivery (Na⁺, K⁺, pH, base excess). In conclusion, we suggest that although the use of up to 500 ml of saline-based HES during cesarean section influences umbilical cord blood electrolytes, the effect is not of a clinically significant magnitude.