Effect of speed of injection of 0.5% plain bupivacaine on the spread of spinal anaesthesia.

We have studied the influence of two different speeds of injection on the spread of spinal anaesthesia of bupivacaine in 40 orthopaedic patients. In a random order, 0.5% plain bupivacaine 3 ml was administered in 10 or 180 s into the subarachnoid space using a 27-gauge needle with the patients in a lateral horizontal position. The slower speed produced a higher spread of spinal anaesthesia (median difference 2.5 segments, P < 0.05).

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes