Anesthesia & Clinical Research
Open Access

Abstract

Assessment of the Effect of Intrathecal Low Dose Levobupivacaine or Bupivacaine Combined with Fentanyl in Patients Undergoing Cesarean Section

Filiz Karaca, Ezgi Erkiliç, Alev Akdıkan, Tülin Gümüs and Orhan Kanbak

In our study, we evaluated the effects of fentanyl added to intrathecal levobupivacaine or bupivacaine on the level of motor-sensory block, analgesia duration, patient satisfaction and newborn’s well being in patients undergoing elective cesarean section. The study was designed as a prospective, randomized and double-blind study. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups, so that patients in Group C received intrathecal isobaric 7.5 mg 0.5% levobupivacaine (1.5 ml) and 20 μg fentanyl (0.4 mL), while the ones in Group B had intrathecal isobaric 7.5 mg 0.5% bupivacaine (1.5 mL)and 20 μg fentanyl (0.4 mL). Following spinal anesthesia, hemodynamic parameters, onset and recovery time of sensorial and motor block, side effects, Apgar scores of the newborns, blood gas levels of the umblical artery, pain scores (VAS) of the patients, surgeon, patient and anesthesiologist satisfaction were recorded. The onset time for sensorial block and the requirement of ephedrine were similar in both groups. The recovery time of block to T10 and the initial analgesic requirement time were detected to be significantly longer in Group C. Duration of motor block was significantly longer in Group B (p=0,017). The intratechal fentanyl added to levobupivacaine or bupivacaine had similar effects both on the mother and the newborn.