A Comparative Study of Intrathecal Ropivacaine-Fentanyl versus Levobupivacaine-Fentanyl in Adult Patients Undergoing Planned Inguinal Hernioplasty

Intrathecal Ropivacaine-Fentanyl versus Levobupivacaine-Fentanyl

Abstract

Introduction: Levobupivacaine and Ropivacaine are S-enantiomer of Bupivacaine and have less cardiac toxicity than Bupivacaine. Very few studies have compared these two cardio-stable drugs with Fentanyl as an adjuvant in spinal blockade. The objective is to evaluate the char- acteristics of spinal anaesthesia with equipotent doses of intrathecal Levobupivacaine-Fentanyl versus Ropivacaine-Fentanyl. Subjects and Method: 80 adult patients, ASA I and II undergoing hernioplasty under subarachnoid block were arbitrarily owed to Group LF (n=40) to get intrathecally 3.0 ml of 0.5% Isobaric Levobupivacaine + 25g Fentanyl and Group RF(n=40) to receive 3 ml of 0.5 % Isobaric Ropivacaine+ 25 g Fentanyl. The onset, peak effect and duration of sensory and motor block, effective analgesia were noted. Result: No significant dissimilarity among demographic parameters and the haemodynamic parameters. Onset of sensory block was earlier in group RF (1.49 0.45min) than Group LF (2.17 0.45min),p<0.01. Period of effective analgesia was considerably larger in group LF (270.92 15.94min) than group RF (193.52 16.94min), Conclusion: Intrathecal use of Isobaric Ropivacaine-Fentanyl produced early onset of sensory block but period of effective analgesia was longer in Levobupivacaine-Fentanyl group.