ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the efficacy of nitroglycerine administered by local application and intravenous injection for uterine relaxation in patients undergoing caesarean section. Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰ patients, aged 25-35 yr, weighing 60-90 kg, undergoing caesarean section, were randomly allocated into 3 groups ( n = 20 each): control group (group C), intravenous injection group (group I) and local application group (group L). Combined spinal-epidural block was used in the patients. After isolation of uterus, nitroglycerine 0.2 mg was injected intravenously in group Ⅰ and was injected into uterine muscle in group L. The delivery time, blood loss during operation and MAP at the time of uterus incision and 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min after uterus incision were recorded. Results Compared with group C, MAP at the time of uterus incision was significantly decreased and the delivery time was significantly shortened in group Ⅰ and L, and the blood loss during operation was significantly increased in group Ⅰ while decreased in group L ( P ＜ 0.05). MAP at the time of uterus incision and 3, 5, and 10 min after uterus incision was significantly increased, the delivery time was significantly shortened, and the blood loss during operation was significantly decreased in group L compared with group Ⅰ ( P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Local application of nitroglycerine exerts better efficacy than intravenous injection for uterine relaxation in patients undergoing caesarean section.