A COMPARISON OF EPIDURAL 1-PERCENT ROPIVACAINE AND 0.75-PERCENT BUPIVACAINE FOR LOWER ABDOMINAL GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY

A randomized double-blind study was performed to compare ropivacaine a nd bupivacaine in epidural anesthesia for intraperitoneal surgery. For ty-four patients undergoing epidural anesthesia for intraperitoneal lo wer abdominal gynecologic surgery received 20 mL of either 1% ropivaca ine or 0.75% bupivacaine via an epidural catheter. There was no differ ence between the two drugs in the onset, extent, and duration of senso ry and motor block. Satisfactory conditions for surgery were produced in the same number of patients in each group. The cardiovascular chang es and the overall incidence of adverse reactions were similar for bot h drugs. It is concluded that ropivacaine is an effective and safe alt ernative to bupivacaine when used in epidural anesthesia for lower abd ominal, intraperitoneal surgery.