A comparative, randomized, open labelled study of the clinical efficacy and safety of intrathecal levobupivacaine and bupivacaine in lower limb surgeries at a tertiary care centre

Author: 
Upasana D, Veena D R and Shanmukananda P

Spinal anesthesia is the anesthesia used for lower limb surgeries. Bupivacaine, the drug of choice for spinal anaesthesia is associated with serious cardiac toxicity. Levobupivacaine, the S enantiomer of Bupivacaine has better cardiovascular safety. Hence this study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of Levobupivacaine over Bupivacaine in lower limb surgeries.
Materials and Methods: This was an open labelled, prospective, randomized study done in 80 patients posted for elective lower limb surgeries. One group received 0.5% of isobaric Levobupivacaine 12.5 mg and other group received 0.5% of hyperbaric Bupivacaine 12.5 mg. The parameters observed were hemodynamic variations, onset and duration of motor and sensory blockade and adverse events.
Results: The hemodynamic variations in both the groups showed no significant variations. Onset of motor blockade was significantly faster in Levobupivacaine (p<0.003) group, but the onset of sensory blockade was similar in both groups. Duration of sensory and motor blockade in both groups was same.
Conclusions: This study showed a faster onset of motor blockade with Levobupivacaine compared to Bupivacaine, with similar hemodynamic changes, duration of motor and sensory blockade and post-operative analgesia in both the groups.

Download PDF: 
DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2022.1174.0261
Select Volume: 
Volume11