EFFECT OF BARICITY ON SPINAL ANAESTHESIA WITH BUPIVACAINE

In a double-blind study of spinal anaesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine 3 ml with no glucose, 5% glucose or 8% glucose all three solutions gave consistently good nerve blocks. The hyperbaric solutions (5% and 8% glucose) produced a greater cephalad spread and were suitable for lower abdominal surgery, whereas the plain solution (no glucose) seldom affected the thoracic nerves. Cardiovascular changes were more marked with the hyperbaric solutions but only necessitated treatment on two occasions. The duration of block was not affected by baricity and was in the range 140–160 min.