Dose-response Study of Spinally Administered Ropivacaine for Caesarean Section in Tall Parturients

The primary objective of this study is to determine the dose-response relationship of subarachnoid (spinal) administered ropivacaine to healthy tall parturients scheduled to undergo elective caesarean section under combined subarachnoid / epidural anaesthesia (CSEA) with co-administration of a fixed dose of fentanyl. The dose-response relationship will be described by determining ED50 (Effective Dose 50) and MLAD (Minimum Local Anaesthetic Dose).

The height threshold of the participants is based on the study "National Anthropometric Research: Effectiveness of Ergonomic Measurements and Applications." By G. Scroumbelos, University of Piraeus. Based on the female height distribution of the previously mentioned Anthropometric Research, we chose the upper quartile (75th to 99th percentile) as an inclusion criterion in our study, which ranges from 167 to 184 cm.

Secondary objectives are spinal induced hypotension, speed of installation and duration of sensory and motor blockade, blood gas analysis of the umbilical circulation of the newborn, Apgar score of the newborn, adverse effects related to the anaesthetic technique (discomfort, nausea, vomiting, pruritus) and the degree of maternal satisfaction.

This is a prospective non randomized double-blinded trial in which a specific algorithm for the local anaesthetic dose will be adopted (up-down sequential allocation, described below). A written informed consent will be required by all participants.

The perioperative management of the participants follows standard clinical protocols. Specifically, conventional non-invasive monitoring consisting of five lead electrocardiography, pulse oximetry and automatic oscillometric cuff blood pressure is used. A low-dose spinal via the needle-through-needle combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique is employed. With the patient in the sedentary position, the O3-O4 intervertebral space is located, followed by skin antisepsis and topical lidocaine infiltration. The loss of resistance technique is used in order to locate the epidural space.

The dose of ropivacaine for each parturient is determined by the response of the previous participant to a higher or lower dose according to the sequential distribution algorithm (up-down sequential allocation). Specifically, the dose of ropivacaine for each parturient (except for the first) will fluctuate by 0.375 mg depending on the success (decrease by 0.375 mg) or failure (increase by 0.376 mg) of the subarachnoid anaesthesia of the previous parturient enrolled in the study. A fix dose of fentanyl (15 mcg) will also be co-administered to all participants. The dose for the first participant will be tailored to the results of a preliminary empirical study of a small number of parturients not enrolled in the trial.

Success of subarachnoid anaesthesia. Successful subarachnoid anaesthesia is defined as (1) an adequate sensory block at the level of T6 or higher within 15 minutes of the spinal injection of the local anaesthetic and opioid, (2) no need for a supplementary dose (rescue dose) of local anaesthetic given epidurally for at least 50 minutes after subarachnoid infusion (maternal pain intensity measured by a Visual Analog Scale, VAS ≤ 3), (3) and the onset of surgery 15 minutes after spinal injection of the local anaesthetic and opioid. In the case of successful subarachnoid anaesthesia, the dose of the spinally administered ropivacaine for the next participant decreases by 0.375 mg.

Failure of subarachnoid anaesthesia. Unsuccessful subarachnoid anaesthesia is defined as (1) VAS > 3 and (2) the need for a rescue dose (ropivacaine 0.5% 3-5 ml given epidurally) once within 50 minutes after the spinal infusion. In this case, the dose of the spinally administered ropivacaine for the next participant increases by 0.375 mg.

Exclusion from the study. The participant will be excluded from the study if (1) VAS > 3 and (2) there is a need for two or more rescue doses administered epidurally within 50 minutes after subarachnoid infusion or (3) there is a need to switch to general anaesthesia. In this case, the same dose of ropivacaine is repeated for the next parturient enrolled in the study.

According to the study protocol, two anaesthetists are required to conduct the study: a study supervisor who sets the dose of the local anaesthetic for the next participant according to the sequential distribution algorithm (see above) and performs the technique and an anaesthetist responsible for recording the study parameters and for the clinical management of the parturient, blinded to the administered dose.

A specific algorithm will be employed for prevention and treatment of spinal induced hypotension, which includes co-hydration with crystalloids (10ml.kg-1) and use of vasopressors (phenylephrine and ephedrine). The algorithm is in agreement with the latest guidelines on the management of hypotension during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia ("International consensus statement on the management of hypotension with vasopressors during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia." Anaesthesia. 2018).

Sample size and statistical analysis. The sequential distribution methodology described by Dixon and Massey (up-down sequential allocation) is applied for statistical analysis. Bibliographic data suggests that "up-down sequential allocation" gives reliable results with a sample size of 20 to 40 individuals.

Data analysis will be performed using the Stata ™ software (Version 10.1 MP, Stata Corporation, College Station, TX 77845, USA).