Midodrine for Improving Hemodynamics After Spinal Anesthesia

Neuraxial blockade such as spinal anaesthesia can cause severe hypotension due to pharmacological sympathectomy resulting in potential deleterious consequences for the patient. Prevention of this spinal anaesthesia induced hypotension is of utmost importance. Techniques currently in use for preventing hypotension include intravenous fluid prehydration, sympathomimetic drugs, and physical methods such as leg bindings and compression stockings. Midodrine is a direct acting α1-adrenoceptor agonist which causes venous and arterial vasoconstriction through stimulation of α1- receptors located in the vasculature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic midodrine use with preoperative fluid hydration before spinal anesthesia in the prevention of hypotension in patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. We hypothesize that intraoperative hypotension would be less in patients given midodrine and intravenous fluid prehydration preoperatively before spinal anesthesia.