Effects of adrenaline and the concentration of solution on extradural block with etidocaine

Forty patients allocated to four groups received extradural injections of etidocaine for the performance of lower abdominal surgery. Twenty millilitre of the 1% or 1.5% solutions with or without adrenaline (1:200 000) was given in a double-blind manner. The addition of adrenaline to etidocaine did not significantly prolong the duration of analgesia, but it produced significant more motor block. Etidocaine 1.5% caused significantly longer durations of analgesia and more motor block than the 1% solution. The spread of sensory analgesia was similar with all four solutions of local anaesthetic agent.