Bhagya D. V 1 , Sheela Seshagiri Rao 2 , Jyothi Gopi 3 , Bidarahalli Seshagiri Rao
BACKGROUND Hyperbaric ropivacaine has shown to produce a reliable and predictable anaesthesia for surgery. The present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of hyperbaric ropivacaine with bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia and its feasibility for ambulatory surgical procedures. Evaluation of analgesia, muscular relaxation, haemodynamic changes and clinical efficacy of intrathecally administered 0.5% hyperbaric ropivacaine in 5% glucose prepared aseptically prior to injection with commercially available 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine containing 8% glucose at equimiligram doses of 17.5 mg. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty adult patients of ASA grade I-II scheduled for infraumbilical surgeries were randomly allocated to two groups to receive either 3.5 mL of 0.5% hyperbaric ropivacaine in (Group R) or 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (Group B). Onset and regression of sensory and motor block, level of blockade and side effects were assessed. RESULTS Hyperbaric ropivacaine had a significant early regression of sensory and motor blockade (166.25±30.51 mins. and 155.40±30.20 mins.) than bupivacaine (270.35±40.72 mins. and 243.15±36.41 mins.). Ropivacaine had better haemodynamic stability, shorter duration of analgesia and less side effects compared to bupivacaine. CONCLUSION 17.5 mg of hyperbaric ropivacaine produces a reliable spinal anaesthesia of intermediate duration for ambulatory procedures.
