Comparison between bupivacaine and etidocaine in lumbar epidural block for urological surgery

Lumbar epidural blocks produced by 17 ml of etidocaine 1% or bupivacaine 0.5%, both with adrenaline (5 mug/ml), have been compared in a double-blind trial in 40 patients, all scheduled for elective urological surgery. The onset time and segmental spread of analgesia, tested by pinprick and thermal pain, seemed to be slightly shorter with etidocaine (not statistically significant). The duration of analgesia and the blood-pressure changes were comparable with both drugs. The incidence and intensity of motor block were higher with etidocaine.