• A R Setayesh, A R Kholdebarin, M S Moghadam, and H R Setayesh.
• Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health, Tehran, Iran. Setayesh@iums.ac.ir
• Can J Anaesth. 2001 Oct 1;48(9):890-3.

PurposeThe effect of position on the spread and the onset time of epidural anesthesia has not been well documented. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of modified Trendelenburg position on the spread of epidural anesthesia for Cesarean section.MethodsSeven hundred thirty-nine parturients underwent epidural anesthesia for elective or emergent Cesarean section. Patients were divided into two groups in a randomized-controlled study. All patients received 20 mL of 2% lidocaine injected through a 19G epidural needle, a standard technique in our institution. During induction of epidural anesthesia, the first group was placed in 15 Trendelenburg with 10 head-up position and the second in the horizontal position. The onset time and the level of anesthesia, patients' vital signs, and Apgar score were recorded in both groups.ResultsThere were no significant differences in vital signs, oxygen saturation and Apgar score between the two groups. The results show significant differences in the time of onset (on average four minutes faster in the modified Trendelenburg position group) (P <0.001), and in achieving T5 level sensory blockade (97.5% vs 42.8%) between the modified Trendelenburg and horizontally positioned pregnant women.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the modified Trendelenburg position has a significant effect on the spread and the onset time of single shot epidural anesthesia, and can be used safely in term parturients for emergency or elective Cesarean section.

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