An Observational Study on Arrhythmia During Cesarean Section Under Spinal Anesthesia: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Effects on Immediate Post-delivery Neonatal Outcome

INTRODUCTIONVarious types of arrhythmia have been reported during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. But the possible causative factors and the effects of arrhythmia on immediate post-delivery neonatal outcome are not well established. METHODSThis prospective observational study was conducted over a period of one year in a tertiary care hospital on women undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. The objectives of the study were to determine the incidence of arrhythmia, its types, the possible factors influencing arrhythmia, and the immediate post-delivery neonatal outcome. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21 (IBM Corp. Armonk, NY). RESULTSIn our study, the incidence of arrhythmia was 31.9% during cesarean section under spinal anesthesia; and sinus bradycardia was the most common type. Arrhythmia occurred more in women with hypotension, when maximum block height was above T4 level and dose of intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine was more than 2.2 mL (P value