Spinal Sufentanil for Obstetric Analgesia

Spinal analgesia (SA) was provided by a resident or specialist anaesthesiologist with the patient in a sitting or a recumbent position. A pencil-point needle, primarily 27 G (0.4 mm), otherwise 25 G (0.5 mm), was used for transdermal intrathecal administration of 2.0 ml of sufentanil 5 µg/ml (Sufenta®, Janssen-Cilag AB, Solna, Sweden) at low-lumbar level. Blood pressure was recorded before, immediately after, and at five-minute intervals for 20 minutes after the block. Any decrease in systolic pressure to \<100 mmHg or a decrease \>20% from the baseline level despite infusion of crystalloid was defined to indicate maternal hypotension.