Objective:

The study compared spinal block characteristics of equipotent doses of plain 0.5% levobupivacaine, plain 0.75% ropivacaine and hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine for elective caesarean (CS) delivery.

Methods:

A total of 100 parturient women undergoing elective CS under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled for the study. The parturients were randomly assigned to receive one of the following in a subarachnoid block: hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine 10 mg (group B), plain 0.5% levobupivacaine 10 mg (group L), or plain 0.5% ropivacaine 15 mg (group R).

Results:

Motor block duration [groups B, LB, R: 143.78 (30.43) minutes, 139.31 (33.38) minutes, 137.32 (27.39) minutes, respectively; P=0.80], sensory block duration [groups B, LB, R: 122.87 (34.93) minutes, 113.03 (39.24) minutes, 125.58 (24.93) minutes, respectively; p=0.30] and first analgesic request time [groups B, LB, R: 136.87 (28.70) minutes, 133.59 (27.30) minutes, 144.19 (32.09) minutes, respectively; p=0.35] were statistically comparable. The groups were statistically comparable for sensory block onset time [T6 block; groups B, LB, R: 4.62 (2.80) minutes, 4.93 (2.63) minutes, 5.73 (3.00) minutes, respectively; p=0.29] but motor block onset time was statistically prolonged for group R as compared to group B [Bromage 3 block; group B, LB, R: 5.93 (3.41) minutes, 9.00 (4.00) minutes, 10.16 (5.66) minutes, respectively; p=0.001]. No statistically significant differences were seen in sensory and motor block recovery times, haemodynamic parameters or side-effects.

Conclusion:

The anaesthesia from a spinal block with 10 mg plain levobupivacaine or 15 mg plain ropivacaine is comparable to the anaesthetic effect of 10 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine in elective caesarean deliveries.

Keywords: Bupivacaine, caesarean delivery, levobupivacaine, ropivacaine, spinal block