title: Comparison of two different doses of intrathecal levobupivacaine for transurethral endoscopic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of two different spinal isobaric levobupivacaine doses on spinal anesthesia characteristics and to find the minimum effective dose for surgery in patients undergoing transurethral resection (TUR) surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty male patients undergoing TUR surgery were included in the study and were randomized into two equal groups: Group LB10 (n=25): 10 mg 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine (2 ml) and Group LB15 (n=25): 15 mg 0.75% isobaric levobupivacaine (2 ml). Spinal anesthesia was administered via a 25G Quincke spinal needle through the L3-4 intervertebral space. Sensorial block levels were evaluated using the 'pin-prick test', and motor block levels were evaluated using the 'Bromage scale'. The sensorial and motor block characteristics of patients during intraoperative and postoperative periods and recovery time from spinal anesthesia were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In three cases in the Group LB10, sensorial block did not reach the T10 level. Complete motor block (Bromage=3) did not occur in eight cases in the Group LB10 and in five cases in the Group LB15. The highest sensorial dermatomal level detected was higher in Group LB15. In Group LB15, sensorial block initial time and the time of complete motor block occurrence were significantly shorter than Group LB10. Hypotension was observed in one case in Group LB15. No significant difference between groups was detected in two segments of regression times: the time to S2 regression and complete sensorial block regression time. Complete motor block regression time was significantly longer in Group LB15 than in Group LB10 (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that the minimum effective spinal isobaric levobupivacaine dose was 10 mg for TUR surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Secil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dizman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turker
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurbet
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif Basagan
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Mogol
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turkcan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ziyaatin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karakuzu
keywords: Levobupivacaine; Spinal anesthesia; Transurethral surgery