Complicaçöes da anestesia subaracnóidea com bupivacaína hiperbárica para cesariana: estudo prospectivo / Complications during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery: a prospective report

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives - To evaluate the incidence and causes of complications associated with spinal anesthesia for elective Cesarean delivery. Methods - 173 patients scheduled for elective Cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia with 0,5 per cent hyperbaric bupivacaine were prospectively studied for complications during a 1 year period. Results - Hyperbaric 0,5 per cent bupivacaine proved to be a reliable anesthetic for Cesarean delivery, with a failure rate of 5,2 per cent. The most common complications were hypotension (38,1 per cent) and bradycardia (3,4 per cent). Nausea, vomiting and shivering were not observed. Conclusions - Spinal anesthesia proved to be a safe, reliable and rapid method of anesthesia for Cesarean delivery. In view of the high incidence of hypotension, careful patient monitoring during anesthesia is necessary to make the outcome optimal for mother and fetus.