Prospective observational study of serial cardiac output by transthoracic echocardiography in healthy pregnant women undergoing elective caesarean delivery

Abstract

Background: An understanding of cardiovascular changes in parturients is crucial for their anaesthetic management, but few studies have examined the effect of posture on cardiac output in the peripartum period. Method: Cardiac output was measured in four different positions by transthoracic echocardiography (Doppler) in 30 term women undergoing elective caesarean delivery. These positions were left lateral level (P1), left lateral with 20° head up (P2), left lateral with 10° head down (P3) measured preoperatively and supine (P4) measured postoperatively. Results: Mean ± SD cardiac output was 4407 ± 1109 mL/min (P1), 4182 ± 825 mL/min (P2), 4031 ± 798 mL/min (P3) and 4641 ± 1064 mL/min (P4). ..