Effects of concentration of local anaesthetic drugs in extradural block.

An increase in the concentration of bupivacaine from 0.5% to 0.75% and etidocaine from 1.0% to 1.5% for extradural block resulted in a more rapid onset of sensory analgesia and motor blockade, a greater frequency of adequate analgesia,a greater depth of motor block and a longer duration of sensory analgesia and motor blockade. An increase in the concentration of prilocaine from 2% to 3% failed to reveal any significant advantage. The use of the more concentrated solutions of bupivacaine and etidocaine would appear to afford significant clinical advantages in extradural anaesthesia for surgery.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes