Efficacy of epidural and spinal anesthesia techniques in preeclampsia parturients

Background: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive related complication of pregnancy; Parturients with pregnancy induced hypertension may present to the labor and delivery unit with or without a prior diagnosis of preeclampsia and may pose a significant anesthetic challenge. Administration of anesthesia in such cases leads to worse cardiovascular response. Objectives: To determine the efficacy of epidural and spinal anesthesia techniques in preeclamptic parturients. Materials and methods: A total 60 women with severe preeclampsia who required anti-hypertensive therapy and suitable to either spinal or epidural anesthesia were included and were divided in to epidural and spinal groups with equal number of distribution. Results: There were significant differences in SAP at 1 to 15 min (P < 0.0001) and at 16 to 20 min (P < 0.005) and DAP at 1 to 15 min (P < 0.0001) and at 16 to 20 min (P < 0.01) between the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in SAP and DAP at 22 to 30 min between groups. Conclusion: Spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery in severely preeclamptic patients causes slightly more hypotension than epidural anesthesia during the induction to delivery period. The duration of hypotension, however, was short and there was no difference in neonatal status.