Intercostal blocks with etidocaine. Preliminary report

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Local anesthetics are crucial for pain management.
• Understanding the role of vasoconstrictors like adrenaline is important for optimizing anesthetic efficacy and duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and duration of sensory block between etidocaine and bupivacaine, with and without adrenaline.
• To investigate the vasodilatory effects of etidocaine and the impact of adrenaline on these effects.

Main Methods:

• Clinical comparison of etidocaine 0.5% and bupivacaine 0.5% with adrenaline (5 mug/ml).
• Evaluation of sensory block duration in the presence and absence of adrenaline for etidocaine.
• Assessment of vasodilatory effects at the injection site.
• Blood level studies of etidocaine.

Main Results:

• Etidocaine 0.5% with adrenaline showed comparable sensory block duration to bupivacaine 0.5% with adrenaline.
• Etidocaine 0.5% without adrenaline resulted in a shorter duration of complete sensory block.
• Etidocaine 0.5% demonstrated vasodilatory properties, which were counteracted by the addition of adrenaline.
• Blood levels of etidocaine did not differ significantly with or without adrenaline.

Conclusions:

• Adrenaline enhances the duration of sensory block for etidocaine.
• Etidocaine exhibits vasodilatory effects that can be mitigated by adrenaline.
• Preliminary findings suggest etidocaine and bupivacaine with adrenaline are comparable for sensory blockade.