A Comparative Study on the Effects of 0.5% Epidural Levobupivacaine and 0.75% Ropivacaine in Lower Limb Surgery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i9.1393Keywords:
Levobupivacaine, Ropivacaine, Lower limb surgery, Epidural anesthesia, Onset time, Block durationAbstract
Background: Levobupivacaine and ropivacaine are widely used local anesthetics in lower limb surgeries. Both agents offer favorable safety profiles, but their comparative effects on anesthesia quality and duration remain a subject of interest. This study compared the clinical efficacy, onset, duration, and safety of 0.5% levobupivacaine and 0.75% ropivacaine in lower limb surgeries.
Methods: Eighty patients were randomly randomised into two groups: Group R (ropivacaine 0.75%, 20 ml) and Group L (levobupivacaine 0.5%, 20 ml). Onset times, duration of sensory and motor block, anaesthetic quality, and hemodynamic parameters were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.
Results: Levobupivacaine had a faster onset of sensory block (8.3 ± 1.5 minutes vs. 10.2 ± 1.7 minutes; p < 0.001) and motor block (12.5 ± 1.8 minutes vs. 14.7 ± 2.0 minutes; p < 0.001). Sensory block duration was longer in Group L (240.5 ± 20.3 minutes) compared to Group R (215.7 ± 18.6 minutes; p < 0.001). Motor block duration was also longer in Group L (205.4 ± 17.2 minutes vs. 185.9 ± 16.5 minutes; p < 0.001). Both groups had similar safety profiles, with no significant differences in hemodynamic stability or adverse effects.
Conclusion: Levobupivacaine demonstrated faster onset, longer duration, and better anesthesia quality than ropivacaine, making it more suitable for longer surgeries. Both agents were well tolerated, with comparable safety profiles.
Recommendations: Further research is recommended to explore the long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of these anesthetic agents in different surgical settings.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Rajeev Kumar, Akhil Piyush, Shalini Sharma, Sudama Prasad
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