title: Comparison of hyperbaric ropivacaine and hyperbaric bupivacaine in unilateral spinal anaesthesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of unilateral spinal anaesthesia with 0.66% hyperbaric ropivacaine compared with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for arthroscopic knee surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with American Society of Anesthesiology physical status grade I-II were randomly and double blindly allocated to one of two groups. Spinal anaesthesia was performed from the L3-4 or L4-5 interspace with the patient in the lateral decubitus position and with the operative side below. Group B (n = 20) received 7.5 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine and group R (n = 20) received 10 mg of 0.66% hyperbaric ropivacaine. Patients stayed in the lateral decubitus position for 10 minutes and were then turned to the supine position. The characteristics of spinal block, intraoperative quality of spinal anaesthesia, adverse effects and recovery times were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The onset of sensory block and motor block were significantly earlier in group B compared with group R (p < 0.05). The duration of sensory block and motor block were significantly shorter for group R compared with group B (p < 0.05). Bilateral sensory block occurred in 85% of patients in group B and in 40% of patients in group R (p < 0.05). Bilateral motor block occurred in 70% of patients in group B and in 25% of patients in group R (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For outpatient knee arthroscopy, 10 mg of 0.66% hyperbaric ropivacaine is preferred to 7.5 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine because it provides a more selective unilateral block and a faster recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Akdeniz University Hospital, Antalya, Turkey. zekiyebigat@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zekiye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bigat
authors.forename: Neval
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boztug
authors.forename: Bilge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karsli
authors.forename: Nihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cete
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ertok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077212:Ropivacaine
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine