ROPIVACAINE IN PEDIATRIC-SURGERY - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

In a double blind study 40 patients, aged 1-9 years, undergoing electi ve minor surgery were examined and randomly divided in two groups (20 children each). After light general anaesthesia Group 1 received cauda l injection of bupivacaine 0.25% 2 mg.kg(-1) while Group 2 received 0. 2% ropivacaine 2 mg.kg(-1). No differences were observed in demographi c data, HR, BP and duration of surgery; the onset time of anaesthesia was 12 min and 9 min in Group 1 and 2 respectively. Ten patients in Gr oup 1 received paracetamol in the first 24 h after surgery while only two children in Group 2 needed analgesic; even the duration of analges ia in the patients requiring paracetamol was superior in group 2 (520 min vs 253 min). No motor block was apparent at awakening in either gr oup and no side effect was noticed. In conclusion ropivacaine seems to be an effective and safe drug in paediatric regional anaesthesia.