Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
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Observational Study
The influence of Body Roundness Index on sensorial block level of spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section: an observational study.
In this prospective trial, we investigate the effectiveness of maternal Body Roundness Index in predicting the spread of spinal anaesthesia and vasopressor requirement in parturients receiving spinal anaesthesia during the elective caesarean section. We prospectively enrolled 175 parturients. Spinal anaesthesia performed with 10 mg 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine at the L3-L4 intervertebral space and the optimal cut-off points of the BRI evaluated as 6.59 by receiver operating characteristic analysis calculating area under the curve. ⋯ An ellipsoid body shape might affect the spread of spinal anaesthesia. What do the results of this study add? Our results show that the BRI was as an independent risk factor associated with maximum sensory block level in term parturients undergoing caesarean delivery. What are the implications of these findings for future clinical practice and/or further research? A future study would present the possibility to design a formula for the exact amount of local anaesthetic to be used in spinal anaesthesia with the aid of maternal BRI.