Open AccessLetter to the Editor
Author(s) -
LANGESÆTER ELDRID,
ROSSELAND LEIV ARNE
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1080/00016340500334893
Subject(s) - medicine , blood pressure , hemodynamics , vascular resistance , heart rate , vasodilation , notice , oxytocin , anesthesia , cardiology , law , political science
We have read the article by Tihtonen et al. concerning maternal hemodynamics during cesarean delivery in the April issue. This is an interesting and important subject. The authors notice a significant decrease in SVRI 2 min after delivery and interpret this change as a sudden volume load in the vascular space. We believe another explanation for these changes needs to be addressed. Oxytocin is normally given in doses of 5 /10 IE i.v. just after delivery. Oxytocin is a potent vasodilator and could in our opinion explain the fall in SVRI and the compensatory increase in heart rate and CI. Tihtonen et al. measured blood pressure noninvasively every second minute. In contrast, we have measured arterial blood pressure, CO, and SVRI continuously invasively and have recorded a prominent fall in SVRI and blood pressure when oxytocin is given, with a compensatory rise in heart rate and CI. We believe this is the explanation for the most striking findings in the article by Tihtonen et al.