Spinal analgesia with glucose-free bupivacaine--effects of volume and concentration

Spinal analgesia using 22.5 mg glucose-free bupivacaine, given either as 3.0 ml of 0.75% solution or 4.5 ml of 0.5% solution was studied in a double-blind fashion in 40 patients scheduled for transurethral surgery. No differences in onset, duration and regression of analgesia or motor blockade were noticed, indicating that dosage (in mg) is more important than either volume or concentration when glucose-free bupivacaine solutions are used for spinal analgesia. The cardiovascular effects were small and no side-effects attributable to the spinal anaesthetic were seen.