title: Intrathecal ropivacaine for ambulatory surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rationale of this study was to evaluate intrathecal ropivacaine for ambulatory surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 scheduled for knee arthroscopy were studied. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 4 ml of one of five isobaric intrathecal solutions: Patients in group 1 (n = 30) received 8 mg of bupivacaine; patients in group 2 (n = 30) received 8 mg ropivacaine; patients in group 3 (n = 30) received 10 mg ropivacaine; patients in group 4 (n = 30) received 12 mg ropivacaine; and patients in group 5 (n = 30) received 14 mg ropivacaine. The level and duration of sensory anesthesia were recorded along with the intensity and duration of motor block. Patients were interviewed to identify transient neurologic symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intrathecal ropivacaine 10 mg produced shorter sensory anesthesia and motor blockade than bupivacaine 8mg (152 +/- 44 min and 135 +/- 41 min vs. 181 +/- 44 min and 169 +/- 52 min, mean +/- SD; P < 0.05). However, the quality of intraoperative analgesia was significantly lower in the 10-mg ropivacaine group (P < 0.05). Ropivacaine 12 mg produced sensory and motor block almost comparable to bupivacaine 8 mg. Ropivacaine 14 mg produced sensory and motor block comparable to ropivacaine 12 mg but significantly increased the time to void. No sign of transient radicular irritation were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrathecal ropivacaine 12 mg is approximately equivalent to bupivacaine 8 mg. At this dose, ropivacaine offers no significant advantage compared with bupivacaine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Clinique Ste. Anne-St. Remi, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Gautier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Kock
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Steenberge
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poth
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lahaye-Goffart
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fanard
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hody
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007717:Knee / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D010147:Pain Measurement; D000077212:Ropivacaine
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine