title: Effect of weight gain during pregnancy on heart rate variability and hypotension during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of antenatal weight gain on baseline heart rate variability and incidence of hypotension in singleton parturients with a normal pre-pregnancy body mass index, presenting at term for elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. Sixty-six parturients, of ASA physical status 1-2, were allocated to one of three groups according to their weight gain during pregnancy: < 11 kg; 11-16 kg; and > 16 kg. Mean (SD) approximate entropy of baseline heart rate was significantly higher in the < 11 kg group (0.27 (0.11)) compared with the 11-16 kg group (0.14 (0.08)) and the > 16 kg group (0.14 (0.07)) (both p < 0.001). The incidence of hypotension in the < 11 kg group (17/22; 77%) was significantly higher than in the 11-16 kg group (7/22; 32%) (p = 0.006) and the > 16 kg group (8/22; 36%) (p = 0.01). We conclude that weight gain < 11 kg during pregnancy is associated with increased baseline heart rate variability and a higher incidence of hypotension at the time of elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Haddad Hospital for the Rosary Sisters, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ghabach
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: El-Khatib
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Zreik
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mouawad
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Karam
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ayoub
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*