title: The effect of intraspinal bupivacaine versus levobupivacaine on the QTc intervals during caesarean section: a randomized, double-blind, prospective study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe whether or not spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine versus levobupivacaine has any effects on the QTc interval during caesarean section. Sixty healthy pregnant women scheduled for elective caesarean section were randomized to spinal anaesthesia with either bupivacaine (the bupivacaine group) or levobupivacaine (the levobupivacaine group). ECG recordings were performed prior to spinal anaesthesia at baseline (T1), 5 min. after spinal anaesthesia, but before uterine incision (T2), and after skin closure (T3). QT intervals were calculated and corrected with the patients' heart rate according to the Bazett formula. Compared with baseline values, mean maximum QTc intervals at T2 and T3 were significantly longer in the levobupivacaine group, but only at T2 in the bupivacaine group. In addition, compared with the bupivacaine group, the QTc maximum interval at T3 was significantly longer in the levobupivacaine group. At T2, the QTc maximum intervals were longer than baseline in both groups. By the end of the surgery, the prolongation of the QTc interval had disappeared in the bupivacaine group but not in the levobupivacaine group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akcay
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Coskuner
authors.forename: Deniz C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silay
authors.forename: Ilknur H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Akbudak
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Hafize
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oksuz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine