A comparative study between levobupivacaine and hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia for ambulatory brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix

Abstract EN

Objective This study aimed to assess the clinical effi cacy of levobupivacaine in spinal anesthesia for day-case brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix.

Study design A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted at the Anesthesia Department of Al-Azhar University Hospitals over a period of 6 months.

Patients and methods Between July 2013 and January 2014, 40 female patients were included in the study after approval of the Local Ethics Committee of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Department of Al-Azhar University.

Informed consent was taken from the patients who were randomized into two groups.

Bupivacaine group, which included 20 patients who received intrathecal 7.5 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine; and levobupivacaine group, which included 20 patients who received intrathecal 7.5 mg of 0.5% levobupivacaine.

About 25 μg fentanyl was added to the local anesthetic solution in both groups through the L3/L4 interspace.

The upper level of sensory blockade, two-segment sensory regression, S2 regression, side effects of the local anesthetic used, urination, ambulation, and the duration of hospital stay were assessed.

Results There were no signifi cant differences between both groups regarding the level of sensory blockade, the onset of sensory blockade to the T10 dermatome, and side effects of the local anesthetic.

The time to two-segment regression, S2 regression, ambulation, and the duration of hospital stay were signifi cantly shorter in the levobupivacaine group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion The mixture of 7.5 mg of 0.5% levobupivacaine+25 μg fentanyl given intrathecally was more effective as it provided sensory and surgical blockade with minimal side effects and early home discharge in ambulatory brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix compared with 7.5 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine+25 μg fentanyl.