Spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is regaining popularity because it can prevent pulmonary aspiration, failure of endotracheal intubation, depression of neonate by anesthetic agent in general anesthesia. Meperidine is unique in having significant local anesthetic properties that differentiate with morphine and fentanyl. Therefore, we compared the effects of adding meperidine 25 mg to intrathecal bupivacaine with fentanyl mixture.

Sixty parturients were allocated (n = 30 per group) to group 1; 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 7.5 mg plus meperidine 25 mg and group 2; 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine 10 mg plus fentanyl 25 µg in random order. Time to reach T₄ sensory level, starting time of surgery, maximal spread of sensory block, incidence of complications, duration of motor block, perioperative analgesic effects, duration of postoperative analgesia were evaluated. We observed Apgar score and umbilical cord blood gas analysis for evaluation of the status of neonate.

There were no significant differences in Time to reach T₄ sensory level, starting time of surgery, maximal spread of sensory block, incidence of hypotension, perioperative analgesic effects, duration of motor block and neonatal status between two groups. The incidence of intraoperative nausea was greater in group 1 (60%) compared to the group 2 (20%) but the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were not significantly different between two groups. Duration of postoperative analgesia was longer in group 1 (576.4 ± 197.8 min) compared to the group 2 (192.6 ± 75.5 min).

Addition of meperidine 25 mg to intrathecal bupivacaine for Cesarean section improves intraoperative analgesia and also provides postoperative analgesia without significant adverse effects on the mother and neonate.