A COMPARISON OF MEPERIDINE AND LIDOCAINE FOR SPINAL-ANESTHESIA FOR POSTPARTUM TUBAL-LIGATION

Background and Objectives. This study compares the anesthetic potency, duration, and side effects of subarachnoid meperidine and lidocaine f or postpartum tubal ligation. Method. Twenty healthy, unpremedicated p ostpartum women gave written informed consent to participate in this r andomized double-blind study. After intravenous infusion of 200 mL phy siologic salt solution, patients received subarachnoid injections of e ither lidocaine 70 mg in 7.5% glucose or meperidine 60 mg in saline wh ile lying in the right lateral position. Heart rate, blood pressure, s ensory and motor block, pain, nausea, and pruritus were recorded at in tervals for up to 12 hours after injection. The time to first postoper ative analgesic was also recorded. Results. There were no differences between the groups in demographics, heart rate, or blood pressure at a ny time. Sensory or motor block developed slightly faster in the lidoc aine group, One patient in each group required general anesthesia owin g to inadequate sensory block. Beginning at 60 minutes, meperidine pat ients experienced more pruritus (P < .05). Lidocaine patients had more postoperative pain (P < .01) and required supplemental analgesia 83.3 +/- 32.7 minutes after induction versus 447.6 +/- 184.0 minutes in th e meperidine group. No patient's oxygen saturation fell below 95%. Pat ients expressed equal satisfaction with both agents. Conclusions. Suba rachnoid meperidine and lidocaine both provide adequate anesthesia for postpartum tubal ligation. Meperidine provided longer postoperative a nalgesia.