Single shot spinal anesthesia with very low hyperbaric bupivacaine dose (3.75mg) for hip fracture repair surgery in the elderly. A randomized, double blinded study

Background: Prostate biopsy is a painful procedure, and the degree of pain is related to the number of core biopsies taken. Objective: To compare the analgesic properties of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.25% with 0.375% ropivacaine for saddle block in transrectal prostate biopsy. Methods: This was a randomised double-blinded study. Eighty patients with indications for prostate biopsy presenting at the Day-Case Theatre in a Nigerian tertiary facility were randomised into two equal groups: B (Bupivacaine) and R (Ropivacaine). Group B received 1ml of 0.25% bupivacaine, while Group R received 1ml of 0.375% ropivacaine for saddle block, respectively. Pain assessment, home readiness, patients' satisfaction, and time to first analgesic request were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: The Bupivacaine group had an earlier onset of sensory block (11.90±4.10 minutes vs 23.70±8.65 minutes, p = 0.000), slower sensory block regression (48.73±9.32 minutes vs 24.88±4.21 minutes, p = 0.000), but delayed home readiness (47.23±15.93 minutes vs 29.88±8.58 minutes, p = 0.000), than patients in the Ropivacaine group. The pain scores during, immediately after and 30 minutes post-biopsy were lower in the Bupivacaine group: p = 0.010, p = 0.028 and p = 0.023 respectively. The time to first analgesic request was also longer in the Bupivacaine group (48.73±9.33 minutes) than for those in the Ropivacaine group (24.88±4.21 minutes) with statistical significance (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Intraoperative analgesic properties were better in the Bupivacaine group than in the Ropivacaine group. However, home readiness was earlier in the Ropivacaine group.

Download Full-text

Minidose Bupivacaine–Fentanyl Spinal Anesthesia for Surgical Repair of Hip Fracture in the Aged

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/00000542-200001000-00007 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 92 (1) ◽

pp. 6-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 107

Author(s):

Bruce Ben-David ◽

Roman Frankel ◽

Tatianna Arzumonov ◽

Yuri Marchevsky ◽

Gershon Volpin

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Hip Fracture ◽

Spinal Anesthesia ◽

Surgical Repair ◽

Systolic Pressure ◽

The Elderly ◽

Vasopressor Support ◽

Group A ◽

Blood Pressures ◽

Group B

Background Spinal anesthesia for surgical repair of hip fracture in the elderly is associated with a high incidence of hypotension. The synergism between intrathecal opioids and local anesthetics may make it possible to achieve reliable spinal anesthesia with minimal hypotension using a minidose of local anesthetic. Methods Twenty patients aged > or = 70 yr undergoing surgical repair of hip fracture were randomized into two groups of 10 patients each. Group A received a spinal anesthetic of bupivacaine 4 mg plus fentanyl 20 microg, and group B received 10 mg bupivacaine. Hypotension was defined as a systolic pressure of < 90 mmHg or a 25% decrease in mean arterial pressure from baseline. Hypotension was treated with intravenous ephedrine boluses 5-10 mg up to a maximum 50 mg, and thereafter by phenylephrine boluses of 100-200 microg. Results All patients had satisfactory anesthesia. One of 10 patients in group A required ephedrine, a single dose of 5 mg. Nine of 10 patients in group B required vasopressor support of blood pressure. Group B patients required an average of 35 mg ephedrine, and two patients required phenylephrine. The lowest recorded systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures as fractions of the baseline pressures were, respectively, 81%, 84%, and 85% versus 64%, 69%, and 64% for group A versus group B. Conclusions A "minidose" of 4 mg bupivacaine in combination with 20 microg fentanyl provides spinal anesthesia for surgical repair of hip fracture in the elderly. The minidose combination caused dramatically less hypotension than 10 mg bupivacaine and nearly eliminated the need for vasopressor support of blood pressure.

Download Full-text