Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia with Epidural Volume Extension causes a Higher Level of Block than Single-Shot Spinal Anesthesia

Abstract

Background and objectives: We evaluated the effects of epidural injection with levobupivacaine or serum physiologic, epidural volume extension (EVE), when using combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) for cesarean delivery. Methods: One-hundred and thirty-eight patients with a full-term pregnancy of 37-42 weeks that were scheduled for cesarean delivery were included. Group 1 (n. =. 48) received single-shot spinal anesthesia (SSS), group 2 (n. =. 45) received CSEA-EVE with saline, group 3 received CSEA-EVE with levobupivacaine. The characteristics of motor and sensory block, the effects on maternal hemodynamic changes and the effects on the newborn were compared. Results: Time to reach maximum sensory block was significantly shorter in groups 3 than in group 1 and 2 (p.