LOCAL ANALGESIC AND VASCULAR EFFECTS OF INTRADERMAL ROPIVACAINE AND BUPIVACAINE IN VARIOUS CONCENTRATIONS WITH AND WITHOUT ADDITION OF ADRENALINE IN MAN

Ropivacaine, a new long-acting amino-amide local anaesthetic agent, an d bupivacaine, in various concentrations with or without addition of a drenaline, were tested in a randomized, double-blind study using intra dermal wheals. Ten non-smoking, healthy, young male volunteers partici pated. In series I plain solutions of ropivacaine (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) and bupivacaine (0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%) were injected intrader mally and in series II the same concentrations, with the addition of a drenaline 5 ug.ml(-1) (1:200 000), were used. The same volunteers took part in both series, with an interval of al least three weeks between the experiments. Saline was included as control in both series. Pin-p ricking was used to assess the dermal analgesia. Plain solutions of ro pivacaine produced significantly longer durations of dermal analgesia than did plain solutions of bupivacaine, in all rested concentrations. A significant increase in duration was seen for both local anaestheti cs when adding adrenaline. Local vascular effects at the injected area s were determined by visual inspection (nil, pink, pale). Local blanch ing (pale) was significantly more frequent for plain solutions of ropi vacaine, in all tested concentrations. Local redness (pink) was signif icantly more frequent with plain bupivacaine, in a dose-dependent rela tion. An initial redness was frequently observed for both local anaest hetics containing adrenaline, followed by blanching at most sites.