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CompletedNCT03555799Updated Jul 2, 2019

Evaluation of Changes of Venous Return After Spinal and Epidural Analgesia and Anesthesia by Ultrasound Guided Vena Cava Diameter Measurement

An observational study in Pregnancy Related and Hypotension, Orthostatic, sponsored by Augusta University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-07-02.

Sponsored by Augusta University · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
42
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The investigators propose this study to test the hypotheses that inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter can predict hypotension after labor analgesia (epidural, combined spinal-epidural) and neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean section (epidural, combined spinal-epidural and spinal block) in full-term pregnant patients.

Read the detailed description

After approval by the Institutional Review Board and patient consent, term pregnant patients (>37 week gestation) admitted to the obstetric service of Augusta University Medical Center, who require administration of neuraxial analgesia for labor or regional anesthesia for cesarean section, will be included in the study. The consent will be obtained by the attending, resident or medical student in which the investigators will explain to the patient the procedure, benefit, risk, cost and, confidentiality. The investigators plan to get the consent immediately after the patient arrived at the unit to avoid any interference with the delivery process. If the patient needs to go to an emergency cesarean section. This patient is not going to be included in the study. Demographic variables (age, BMI, Gravity, parity and gestation weeks) and hemodynamic variables (MAP and HR) will be recorded. All patients will be lying in supine position, breathing spontaneously. The ultrasound examination will be performed before commencement of the neuraxial procedure and will be repeated two minutes after administration of the neuraxial anesthetic. Ultrasound measurements will be made with a Sonosite Edge (Sonosite Inc. USA) machine and a C60X curved linear phased array transducer (Sonosite Inc.) set to abdominal mode. All measurements will be made by two attending anesthesiologists (ERP and AR) who have experience in transthoracic echocardiography, and a resident who receives the basic instruction to measure IVC diameter. The medical student will be present during the procedure and will ensure that the study echocardiographic views are taken.

The IVC will be visualized using a paramedian long-axis view via a subcostal approach according to guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography. A two-dimensional image of the IVC will be obtained and pulsed wave Doppler will be used to differentiate from the aorta. Variations in IVC diameters will be assessed with M-mode applied 2 cm. distal to the right atrium. To ensure consistent measurements, each operator will take three images. The best quality images are chosen. Maximum and minimum IVC diameters during a single respiratory cycle will be measured.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pregnancy Related
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic
03

In context

Hypotension, Orthostatic

155 studies on the registry are indexed under Hypotension, Orthostatic; 34 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 42 is below the median of 50 across 34 observational studies indexed under Hypotension, Orthostatic.

Browse Hypotension, Orthostatic studies →

Lead sponsor

Augusta University is the lead sponsor of 177 studies on the registry; 24 are open to participants now.

Of its 10 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 3 (30%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Term pregnant patients in labor who have labor epidural placement.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Pregnant patients >37 weeks of gestation
  2. Indication for neuraxial labor analgesia or regional anesthesia for cesarean section
  3. Age older than 18 years
  4. Pregnancy without diagnosed comorbidities

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

  1. Unwillingness to participate in the study
  2. Diagnosis of Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
  3. Diagnosis of cardiopulmonary disease
  4. Allergy to US gel
05

Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
42 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Labor analgesia patients

    Patients with clinical indication of labor epidural will have IVC diameter measurement with ultrasound before and after the epidural placement

    Diagnostic Test: Inferior vena cava ultrasound

Interventions

  • Diagnostic testInferior vena cava ultrasound

    Abdominal ultrasound to identify IVC between hepatic veins and right atrium. Measurement of dimensions throughout respiratory cycle (before and after labor epidural)

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. IVC diameter

    IVC diameter in centimeters during respiratory cycle

    Time frame: 10 minutes

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mean arterial pressure

    Mean arterial pressure

    Time frame: 30 minutes

  2. Nausea

    Nausea

    Time frame: 30 minutes

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Study locations

1 site
  • Augusta University
    Augusta, Georgia 30912, United States
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References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 2, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03555799
Lead sponsor
Augusta University
Responsible party
Efrain Riveros Perez, MD (Assistant Professor Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Augusta University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jun 14, 2018
Start date
May 18, 2018
Primary completion
May 31, 2019
Completion
Jun 15, 2019
Last update
Jul 2, 2019

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jul 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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