Effect of baricity on spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine
Chambers, W.A.; Edstrom, H.H.; Scott, D.B.
British Journal of Anaesthesia 53(3): 279-282
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-0912 PMID: 7008819 Document Number: 179439
In a double-blind study of spinal anesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine 3 ml with no glucose, 5% glucose or 8% glucose, all 3 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, but the plain solution (no glucose) seldom affected the thoracic nerves. Cardiovascular changes were more marked with the hyperbaric solutions but only necessitated treatment on 2 occasions. The duration of block was not affected by baricity and was in the range 140-160 min.