TRANSIENT NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS AFTER SPINAL-ANESTHESIA WITH 4-PERCENT MEPIVACAINE AND 0.5-PERCENT BUPIVACAINE

Several studies have reported transient neurological symptoms after sp inal anaesthesia with 5% lignocaine. In order to evaluate the role of concentrated solutions of local anaesthetic in the development of tran sient neurological symptoms, 200 ASA I or II patients undergoing minor orthopaedic or rectal surgery under spinal anaesthesia were allocated randomly to receive 4% mepivacaine 80 mg or hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacai ne 10 mg. All patients were interviewed by an anaesthetist approximate ly 24 h after spinal anaesthesia, and after 1 week patients were asked to return a written questionnaire. The incidence of transient neurolo gical symptoms consisting of pain in the buttocks or pain radiating sy mmetrically to the lower extremities differed (P<0.001) between patien ts receiving mepivacaine (30%) and those receiving bupivacaine (3%). H yperbaric 0.5% be recommended for minor lower abdomen or lower extremi ties.