[Levobupivacaine in obstetric analgesia and anaesthesia].
METHODS
Published studies, including abstracts, has been reviewed and summarized.


RESULTS
Studies in sheep have demonstrated no significant differences in pharmacokinetic and placental transfer of levobuvacaine when compared with bupivacaine. Clinical studies on cesarean section confirmed similar performance between these two drugs. No differences in onset time, sensory and motor block and efficacy of analgesia have been reported. Two multicentre studies on labor analgesia reported again similar analgesic efficacy with a trend toward less motor block in parturients receiving levobupivacaine.


CONCLUSIONS
This review has shown that levobupivacaine has a similar efficacy and a similar maternal fetal safety to that of bupivacaine. Further studies are needed to determine if the chemical properties of the new agent may influence the sensory and motor characteristics of the block.
Capogna
G
G
Dipartimento di Anestesia e Rianimazione, AFaR, CRCCS Ospedale Fatebenefratelli, Rome, Italy.
Celleno
D
D
Camorcia
M
M
D016362:Analgesia, Obstetrical; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000818:Animals; D002045:Bupivacaine; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine
La levobupivacaina in anestesia ed analgesia ostetrica.