Spinal ropivacaine or bupivacaine for cesarean delivery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind comparison
Danelli G1, Fanelli G, Berti M, Cornini A, Lacava L, Nuzzi
M, Fanelli A.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was to compare clinical efficacy and safety of ropivacaine and bupivacaine given intrathecally in combination with morphine for cesarean delivery.
METHODS:
With ethical committee approval and a written informed consent, 60 women scheduled for elective cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive spinal anesthesia with either 20 mg ropivacaine plus 0.1 mg morphine (n = 30) or 15 mg bupivacaine plus 0.1 mg morphine (n = 30). Profile of spinal block (onset and recovery times), cardiovascular effects, and quality of postoperative analgesia (patient-controlled morphine) were recorded by a blinded observer.
RESULTS:
The onset time of motor block was shorter after bupivacaine (8 +/- 2 min) than after ropivacaine (12 +/- 5 minutes) (P <.05), whereas duration of both sensory and motor blocks was longer after bupivacaine (139 +/- 37 minutes and 254 +/- 76 minutes) than after ropivacaine (112 +/- 27 minutes and 211 +/- 48 minutes) (P <.01 and P <.05, respectively). No differences in intraoperative quality of anesthesia and clinical hypotension requiring ephedrine administration were observed between the two groups. Postoperative analgesia was similarly effective in both groups; however median consumption of patient-controlled morphine during the first 24 hours after surgery was higher in patients of group Ropivacaine (5 mg; range, 0 to 18 mg) than in patients of group Bupivacaine (2 mg; range, 0 to 7 mg) (P <.01).
CONCLUSION:
Spinal anesthesia produced with 20 mg ropivacaine as effective and safe as that provided by 15 mg bupivacaine with an earlier recovery of sensory and motor functions after surgery.