International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 17, Issue 4 , Pages 343-347 , October 2008

Routine use of the sitting position for spinal anaesthesia should be abandoned in obstetric practice

,Accepted 1 March 2008.

References 

  1. Bonica JJ. Spinal (lumbar) epidural block. In: Principles and Practice of Obstetric Analgesia and Anesthesia. Philadelphia: FA Davis; 1969;p. 630
  2. Ueland K, Novy MJ, Peterson EN, Metcalfe J. Maternal cardiovascular dynamics: The influence of gestational age on the maternal cardiovascular response to posture and exercise. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1969;104:856–864
  3. Suonio S, Simpanen AL, Olkkonen H, Haring P. Effect of the left lateral recumbent position compared with the supine and upright positions on placental blood flow in normal late pregnancy. Ann Clin Res. 1976;8:22–26
  4. Obstetric anaesthesia delays and complications. Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy. 7th Annual Report. Maternal and Child Health Consortium, June 2000: 41-52.
  5. Vincent RD Chestnut DH. Which position is more comfortable for the parturient during identification of the epidural space?. Int J Obstet Anesth. 1991;1:9–11
  6. Kinsella SM. Lateral positioning for regional analgesia during labour. Br J Anaesth. 1997;79:260–261
  7. Bridenbaugh PO, Greene NM. Spinal (subarachnoid) neural blockade. In:  Cousins MJ,  Bridenbaugh PO editor. Neural Blockade in Clinical Anesthesia and Management of Pain. Philadelphia: Lippincott; 1988;p. 213–251
  8. In:  Holdcroft A,  Thomas TA editor. Principles and Practice of Obstetric Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 2000;p. 231
  9. Silver HM, Tahvanainen KU, Kuusela TA, Eckberg DL. Comparison of vagal baroreflex function in nonpregnant women and in women with normal pregnancy, preeclampsia, or gestational hypertension. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2001;184:1189–1195
  10. Fisher A, Lupu L, Gurevitz B, Brill S, Margolin E, Hertzanu Y. Hip flexion and lumbar puncture: a radiological study. Anaesthesia. 2001;56:262–266
  11. Plaat F, McCready-Hall L. Hip flexion for lumbar puncture: not easy in obstetric practice. Anaesthesia. 2001;56:1023–1024
  12. Masatoshi N, Usukaura A, Kidani Y, Tsubokawa T, Yamamoto K. Which is a better position for insertion of a high thoracic epidural catheter: sitting or lateral decubitus?. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2006;20:656–658
  13. Salvi L, Sisillo E, Rondello N. Success rate, decubitus position, and vagal reflex during a high thoracic epidural for coronary artery surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2007;21:919–920
  14. Watkins EJ, Dresner M, Callow CE. Severe vasovagal attack during regional anaesthesia for caesarean section. Br J Anaesth. 2000;84:118–120
  15. Reynolds F. Good news is yet again being obscured. Br Med J 2nd August 2004 rapid response: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/329/7460/293#69649.
  16. Hosie L, Wood JP, Thomas AN. Vasovagal syncope and anaesthetic practice. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2001;18:554–557
  17. National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Guidelines for Caesarean Section. London: Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2004.
  18. Hallworth SP, Fernando R, Columb MO, Stocks GM. The effect of posture and baricity on the spread of intrathecal bupivacaine for elective cesarean delivery. Anesth Analg. 2005;100:1159–1165
  19. Coppejans HC, Hendrickx E, Goossens J, Vercauteren MP. The sitting versus right lateral position during combined spinal-epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery: block characteristics and severity of hypotension. Anesth Analg. 2006;102:243–273
  20. Kelly MC, Carabine UA, Mirakhur RK. Intrathecal diamorphine for analgesia after Caesarean section. A dose finding study and assessment of side effects. Anaesthesia. 1998;53:231–237
  21. Jones R, Stacey RGW. Intrathecal diamorphine and caesarean section. Anaesthesia. 1998;53:718
  22. Dresner M, Bamber J, Freeman J. The sitting position for spinal anaesthesia. Anaesthesia. 1998;53:1234
  23. Bembridge M, Macdonald R, Lyons G. Spinal anaesthesia with hyperbaric lignocaine for elective Caesarean section. Anaesthesia. 1986;41:906–909
  24. Inglis A, Daniel M, McGrady E. Maternal position during induction of spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section. A comparison of right lateral and sitting positions. Anaesthesia. 1995;50:363–365
  25. Serpell MG, Carson DF. Maternal position during induction of spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section. Anaesthesia. 1995;50:921–922
  26. Russell IF. Spinal anaesthesia – sitting or lateral positions?. Anaesthesia. 1996;51:198–199
  27. Hopkinson JM, Samaan AK, Russell IF, Birks RJ, Patrick MR. A comparative multicentre trial of spinal needles for caesarean section. Anaesthesia. 1997;52:1005–1011
  28. Stone PA, Kilpatrick AW, Thorburn J. Posture and epidural catheter insertion. The relationship between skill, experience and maternal posture on the outcome of epidural catheter insertion. Anaesthesia. 1990;45:920–923
  29. Hamza J, Smida M, Benhamou D, Cohen SE. Parturient’s posture during epidural puncture affects the distance from skin to epidural space. J Clin Anesth. 1995;7:1–4
  30. In:  Yentis SM,  Brighouse D,  May A,  Bogod D,  Elton C editor. Analgesia, Anaesthesia and Pregnancy. A Practical Guide. London: WB Saunders; 2001;p. 360–362

PII: S0959-289X(08)00070-8

doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2008.03.008

International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia
Volume 17, Issue 4 , Pages 343-347 , October 2008

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution