Hyperbaric bupivacaine and hyperbaric cinchocaine: a comparison of their use for spinal anaesthesia

A new spinal analgesic formulation, 'heavy bupivacaine', was compared clinically with a commonly used agent. Sixty patients, who required spinal analgesia for transurethral prostatectomy, received either 1.5 ml of hyperbaric 0.5% cinchocaine (Nupercaine, Percaine, Dibucaine) in 6% dextrose or 2.5 ml of hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine (Marcain) in 8% dextrose. The onset, rate of rise, plateau height of the sensory block, reduction in blood pressure and peak expiratory flow rate, and the operative and post-operative blood loss did not differ significantly. Motor blockade was significantly less with bupivacaine. It is concluded that hyperbaric bupivacaine is an acceptable alternative to hyperbaric cinchocaine for spinal analgesia for transurethral prostatectomy.