Overview

Several studies have shown that adding dexmedetomidine or epinephrine to single-dose spinal analgesia preparations improves the length and/or speed of onset of the sensory block and post-operative pain management without increased negative side effects. To date, however, no study has compared adjunctive intrathecal dexmedetomidine to adjunctive intrathecal epinephrine in single-dose spinal analgesia. The purpose of this study is to determine if adjunctive intrathecal dexmedetomidine is non-inferior to adjunctive intrathecal epinephrine in providing better single-dose spinal analgesia during cesarean section.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant patients
• aged 18-55 years
• presenting for scheduled primary or secondary cesarean section
• candidates for single shot spinal anesthesia singleton pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

• patient refusal of spinal anesthetic
• if patient is not a candidate for spinal anesthesia due to history of coagulopathy, elevated intracranial pressure, infection at site of injection, etc.
• emergency cesarean section
• preexisting motor or sensory deficit
• suspected pre-eclampsia
• patient receiving combined spinal-epidural as anesthetic technique
• BMI > 40