0.125-PERCENT ROPIVACAINE IS SIMILAR TO 0.125-PERCENT BUPIVACAINE FORLABOR ANALGESIA USING PATIENT-CONTROLLED EPIDURAL INFUSION

We compared the effects of 0.125% ropivacaine with 0.125% bupivacaine in laboring patients using patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA ). Fifty-one ASA physical status I or II term parturients with functio ning epidural catheters were randomized to receive ropivacaine or bupi vacaine using a prospective, double-blind design. Basal infusions (6 m L/h) were supplemented with patient-controlled boluses (5 mt) every 10 min as required. For inadequate analgesia, patients were administered 10-mL boluses of study solution until comfortable. There were no diff erences in verbal pain scores, amount of local anesthetics used, senso ry levels, motor blockade, labor duration, mode of delivery, side effe cts, or patient satisfaction between the two local anesthetics. We con clude that 0.125% ropivacaine and bupivacaine are clinically indisting uishable and are both highly effective for labor analgesia using PCEA. Implications: This study compared labor analgesia from 0.125% ropivac aine and 0.125% bupivacaine using patient-controlled epidural analgesi a. We found no significant differences in local anesthetic use, analge sic characteristics, or side effects between 0.125% ropivacaine and 0. 125% bupivacaine. We conclude that these two drugs are clinically indi stinguishable at this concentration.