Overview

Echocardiography will be used to measure cardiac output and calculate other important hemodynamic variables in healthy patients with full-term singleton pregnancy during cesarean delivery under conventional spinal anesthesia using 2 different vasopressor drugs: norepinephrine in 1 group versus ephedrine in another group.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II.
• Singleton, full term pregnancy.
• Scheduled cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Height \<150 or \>180 cm.
• Weight \<60 or \>110 kg.
• Body mass index (BMI) \<18.5 or ≥35 kg/m².
• Women presenting in labor.
• Any contraindication to spinal anesthesia: increased intracranial pressure, coagulopathy, or local skin infection.
• Chronic or pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• Baseline systolic blood pressure \>140 mm Hg.
• Hemoglobin \<10 g/dl.
• Diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or renal disease.
• Polyhydramnios or known significant fetal abnormalities.
• Current administration of vasoactive drugs such as: beta blockers, salbutamol, or thyroxin.