Maternal and neonatal blood glucose after crystalloid loading for epidural caesarean section

Serial blood glucose estimations were made in 30 women undergoing elective Caesarean section under epidural anaesthesia, 2 litres of Hartmann's solution having been rapidly infused as a circulatory preload Neonatal blood glucose estimations were made of cord blood at birth and 1 and 2 hours post delivery. A small rise in maternal blood glucose occurred during the period of preloading and time before delivery, which was not statistically significant (p greater than 0.05). There was no biochemical or clinical evidence of neonatal hypoglycaemia. We conclude that despite rapid infusion of non-dextrose crystalloid solution there is neither danger of a relative maternal hypoglycaemia in fasted mothers nor neonatal hypoglycaemia, and offer an argument that even small amounts of dextrose contained in any preloading mixture are unnecessary.