Treatment and Prevention of Spinal-Induced Hypotension in the Cesarean Section Patient: What Does the Evidence Say?

Most anesthesia providers prefer to do a subarachnoid block (SAB) for cesarean section because of its rapid onset and reliability to provide adequate anesthesia. However an effect of the SAB is that it causes a spinal-induced hypotension (SIH) in up to 85% of the population. There have been multiple studies that assessed fluid administration, vasopressor administration, maternal positioning, or serotonin blockers given prophylactically to attenuate the SIH response. Despite these multiple studies, the method to prevent and treat SIH remains varied from one anesthesia practice to another. The purpose of this chapter is to review the evidence on the various methods used to prevent and treat SIH.