Closed‐loop feedback computer‐controlled infusion of phenylephrine for maintaining blood pressure during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section: a preliminary descriptive study *

We describe the novel use of a closed‐loop feedback computer‐controlled infusion of phenylephrine for maintaining blood pressure in 53 patients having spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section. A simple on–off algorithm was used that activated an intravenous phenylephrine infusion at 100 μg.min−1 when systolic blood pressure was less than or equal to baseline and stopped the infusion when systolic blood pressure exceeded baseline. Up to uterine incision, 94.6% of all systolic blood pressure measurements were within the range (baseline ± 20%). Seven patients (13.2%) had one or more episodes of hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 80% of baseline) and 23 patients (37.7%) had one or more episodes of hypertension (systolic blood pressure > 120% of baseline). No patient had nausea or vomiting and in no case was umbilical arterial blood pH < 7.2. Calculated system performance parameters were comparable with those of previously published closed‐loop systems and provide a reference for the potential development and comparison of more advanced algorithms.