Comparison of 0.5% intrathecal bupivacaine with 0.5% intrathecal ropivacaine in the treatment of refractory cancer and noncancer pain conditions: Results from a prospective, crossover, double-blind, randomized study

Background and Objectives: Intrathecal (IT) administration of bupivacaine ( BUP) for treatment of "refractory" pain has sometimes been associated with unacceptable side effects. This study was undertaken to determine if IT-rop ivacaine (ROP) can reduce the rate and intensity of these side effects e.g. , urinary retention, paresthesia, and particularly, paresis with gait impai rment. A prospective, crossover, double-blind, randomized study. Methods: Twenty-one patients were enrolled, 9 dropped out of the study, and data were analyzed from 12 patients. Patients were treated by insertion of IT tunneled nylon catheters, continuous infusion of 0.5% ROP followed by 0 .5% BUP or 0.5% BUP followed by 0.5% ROP solutions from an external electro nic pump. Each local anesthetic was infused for 7 days, and their order of infusion randomized. The comparative efficacy of the ROP and BUP IT infusio ns was assessed from the daily doses of IT ROP and IT BUP, oral and parente ral opioids, and daily scores of nonopioid analgetic and sedative drug cons umption. Self-reported pain intensity (visual analogue scale [VAS] mean sco res) and scores of Bromage relaxation, ambulation, nocturnal steep pattern, rates of side-effects attributable to the IT drugs, the patients' assessme nt of the IT ROP v the IT BUP periods of the trial, and the comparative dai ly cost of IT ROP v IT BUP were recorded. Results: The daily doses of the local anesthetics used were 23% higher for ROP than for BUP. Further, the daily cost was approximate to 3 times higher for ROP than for BUP. No other significant differences between IT ROP and IT BUP were found. Conclusion: The results of this study do not support the hypothesis that IT infusion of 0.5% ROP has advantages over IT infusion of 0.5 % BUP when adm inistered for relief of "refractory" pain.