Hypotension following spinal anesthesia
Description of Hypotension following spinal anesthesia
Hypotension following spinal anesthesia, especially in pregnant women, is one of the most common side effects. Spinal anesthesia causes dilatation of blood vessels and decreases their resistance to blood flow thereby decreasing the blood pressure. The situation is worsened in pregnancy due to compression of the major blood vessels (abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava) by the heavy uterus when a pregnant woman lies on her back.