[Continuous cervical epidural with ropivacaine in carotid surgery. Description of a case]

In the light of the recent addition of ropivacaine as a local anesthetic to our pharmacopeia, its effects at the cervical level are examined. A patient undergoing TEAC was given continuous epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine 0.5% (total dose: 167.5 mg in three hours) at C6-C7. No supplementary i.v. anesthetic was administered intraoperatively. The results obtained were compared with those of a similar case as to type of pathology and anesthetic technique, who was anesthetised with bupivacaine 0.375% (total dose: 112.5 mg in three hours-continuous epidural anesthesia) + fentanyl (0.18 mg), supplemented intravenously with ketoprophene (200 mg) + fentanyl (0.15 mg) for analgesic reasons. From this comparison, ropivacaine 0.5% was found to have greater anesthetic potential than bupivacaine 0.375%. However, it did not appear that ropivacaine exerted a protective effect on cardiovascular conditions in the course of carotid surgery. Further anesthesiologic experiences are needed to define the validity of ropivacaine in cervical surgery.