Stellate ganglion block with bupivacaine. Minimum effective concentration of bupivacaine and the effect of added potassium.
Sympathetic blockade after stellate ganglion block with bupivacaine was assessed by liquid crystal thermography. The minimum concentration of bupivacaine required for successful block was between 325 and 406 mumol/litre. Further study of bupivacaine in a solution that contained potassium 5 mmol/litre showed that this reduced the minimum concentration of bupivacaine required for successful block to between 81 and 162 mumol/litre. We conclude that potassium has a major effect on the minimum concentration of bupivacaine required for sympathetic blockade.
Hardy
P A
PA
Pain Relief Foundation, Liverpool.
D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects*; D013817:Thermography
D011188:Potassium; D002045:Bupivacaine