Comparison of a Standard Dose with a Low Dose of Levobupivacaine in Spinal Anesthesia for Caesarean Section

Abstract

Obstetric anesthesia carries great responsibilities because there are two patients, the mother and the fetus. The purpose of the present study is to compare two doses of Levobupivacaine for spinal anesthesia at elective cesarean section, to determine the best dose that can give mother and fetal hemodynamic stability and a fast anesthesia recovery after the surgery. Method: We conducted a prospective randomized comparative study in 56 patients undergoing cesarean section with spinal dose of Levobupivacaine 6 mg (22 patients) and 10 mg (34 patients), both groups combined with 25 µg of fentanyl. The two doses of local anesthetic were compared with regard to sensory and motor blockade, the need for supplementation epidural, the severity of hypotension and other complications. Result: The 6 mg of levobupivacaine group presents no difference in the incidence of hypotension, bradycardia, nauseas or vomiting compared with the 10 mg of levobupivacaine group, but presents higher incidence of supplementary analgesia and lower mother satisfaction. Conclusions: The combination of 6 mg of levobupivacaine with 25 µg of fentanyl on spinal anesthesia can be an option for short time cesarean section, buy doesn’t present a superior profile in side effects over the 10 mg of levobupivacaine with 25 µg of fentanyl combination with worst maternal satisfaction.