A comparison between lignocaine hydrochloride and lignocaine-carbon dioxide base for epidural anaesthesia during vaginal delivery

Abstract

Summary: Fifty patients received continuous epidural anaesthesia for labour and delivery. One per cent lignocaine-carbon dioxide with 1:200,000 adrenaline was used in twenty-five patients while the remainder received 1 per cent lignocaine hydrochloride with 1:200,000 adrenaline. At delivery maternal venous blood and umbilical venous and arterial blood was sampled and analyzed for lignocaine concentration. The newborns were assessed by Apgar scores and times to sustained rhythmic respirations after delivery. No significant differences between the two sets of lignocaine concentrations and foetal condition could be shown. However, maternal and foetal lignocaine concentration showed a tendency to be lower after the use of lignocaine-carbon dioxide. Maternal and foetal concentrations were well below accepted toxic levels in both groups. © 1971 John Sherratt and Son Ltd.