Article

Effects of Nalbuphine and Fentanyl as Adjuvants to (0.5 %) Isobaric Levobupivacaine in Subarachnoid Block for Elective Transurethral Endoscopic Surgeries

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Abstract

BACKGROUND Isobaric levobupivacaine has minimal effect on positional variation of sensory and motor blockade given intrathecally. Also, it has lesser cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects. Present study was done to compare efficacy, analgesia haemodynamic effects and any adverse effects after spinal anaesthesia with isobaric levobupivacaine with nalbuphine and fentanyl as adjuvants in transurethral endoscopic surgeries. METHODS 60 male adult patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA class I-III) of age group 40 - 80 years were randomized into 2 groups (n = 30) in this prospective, double blinded study. 10 mg of 0.5 % levobupivacaine with 25 µg fentanyl in group LF and 10 mg of 0.5 % levobupivacaine with 0.8 mg nalbuphine in group LN. Parameters assessed were sensory and motor blockade characteristics and hemodynamic variables in both the groups. Adverse effects were recorded if any. RESULTS Onset of sensory and motor blockade were significantly faster in group LF compared to group LN. In both the groups, time for two segment regression was comparable. Statistically significant prolonged analgesic duration was noticed in group with nalbuphine than fentanyl as adjuvant to isobaric levobupivacaine. Difference in haemodynamic variation was not significant in both the groups. CONCLUSIONS Intrathecal nalbuphine 0.8 mg as an adjuvant with isobaric levobupivacaine 0.5 % 10 mg is as efficacious as fentanyl 25µg in transurethral endoscopic surgeries in elderly population with better hemodynamic stability. KEY WORDS Levobupivacaine; Fentanyl; Nalbuphine; Spinal anaesthesia.

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Racemic bupivacaine is the most common local anaesthetic used intrathecally. This prospective, randomized, double-blind study compared the clinical efficacy and motor block of 0.5% levobupivacaine with 0.5% racemic bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia for urological surgery. The surgery required an upper level of sensory block of at least the tenth thoracic dermatome. Fifty patients were recruited (levobupivacaine group n=24; bupivacaine group n=26). Spinal anaesthesia was achieved with 2.6 ml of study solution injected in the subarachnoid space at the lumbar 3/4 interspace. One patient from the levobupivacaine group was excluded due to technical failure. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the quality of sensory and motor block or in haemodynamic change. Anaesthesia was adequate and patient satisfaction good in all cases. We conclude that 0.5% levobupivacaine can be used as an alternative to 0.5% racemic bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia for surgery when a sensory block to at least T10 is required.
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Levobupivacaine, a new local anaesthetic, has been recently introduced into clinical practice because of its lower toxic effects for heart and central nervous system. It has been already investigated in epidural and loco-regional techniques, but more has to be known regarding its characteristics in spinal anaesthesia. The aim of our study was to compare clinical and anaesthetic features of levobupivacaine and racemic bupivacaine when intrathecally administered in 60 patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgical procedures. Three ml of glucose-free levobupivacaine 0.5% (group L) or 3 ml of isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% (group B) were administered in 30 patients each. Sensory and motor blockades were evaluated by the pinprick test and a modified Bromage score, respectively. Vital parameters, postoperative VAS and rescue analgesia were recorded as well. No statistically significant differences between groups were observed either in anaesthetic potencies or postoperative pain. Either heart rate or mean arterial pressure slightly decreased in both groups, with no preoperative significant differences. Nevertheless, spinal puncture was accompanied by severe hypotension and bradycardia in 2 patients of group B. In both cases, hemodynamics were promptly and successfully treated, with no sequelae. In conclusion, levobupivacaine results a valid alternative to racemic bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia, the latter remaining a cheap and effective local anaesthetic yet. Notwithstanding the complete absence of any significant hemodynamic complications in the patients of group L, further and larger studies are needed in order to assess if levobupivacaine is preferable to bupivacaine for minimizing the possible cardiovascular impact of spinal anaesthesia.
Article
Bupivacaine is available as a racemic mixture of dextrobupivacaine and levobupivacaine. Many studies show that dextrobupivacaine has a greater inherent central nervous system and cardiovascular toxicity than levobupivacaine. The objective of the present study was to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of isobaric solution of levobupivacaine compared with hyperbaric solution of racemic bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia. The authors studied 70 patients undergoing elective transurethral endoscopic surgery who received either 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine (n = 35) or 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (n = 35) intrathecally, in a randomized, double blind study. The two groups were similar in terms of time to block suitable for surgery, duration of sensory block, time to two segments regression, time to T12 regression, time to onset and offset of motor block, verbal numeric pain scores at the start of the operation and adverse events. The present study indicated that 2.5 ml of 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine and 0.5% hyperbaric of racemic bupivacaine show equally effective potencies for spinal anesthesia, regard to both the onset time and duration of sensory blockade.
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