HOME-READINESS AFTER SPINAL-ANESTHESIA WITH SMALL DOSES OF HYPERBARIC0.5-PERCENT BUPIVACAINE

Fifty-four patients were studied prospectively to evaluate home-readin ess after a small dose (1 or 2 mi) of subarachnoid hyperbaric 0.5% bup ivacaine. The block regressed significantly earlier in the 1 mi group than in the 2 mi group (p < 0.05). The patients were also able to walk significantly earlier in the 1 mi group (median 161 min and 231 min i n the 1 mi and 2 mi groups, respectively) (p <0.05). However, there we re no significant differences between the groups in time of ability to void. We conclude that adequate surgical anaesthesia can be achieved with small doses of hyperbaric bupivacaine used for spinal anaesthesia . Although the sensory and motor block after 1 or 2 mi hyperbaric bupi vacaine recovered within a reasonable time for day-case surgery, in so me patients recovery of the ability to void was delayed to an undesira ble extent.