Epidural anesthesia with plain bupivacaine 0.75% for elective caesarean section

The clinical effects of epidural anesthesia with bupivacaine 0.75% for elective caesarean section were investigated in 20 healthy pregnant women. The mean total dose of bupivacaine which offers sufficient sensory and motor block, provided the epidural catheter is properly placed, was 137.5 mg. Maternal hypotension occurred in 4 patients in spite of prehydratation and left uterine displacement. No maternal systemic toxicity or local neurotoxicity was found. The results of the Apgar scoring and the neonatal acid-base studies showed that there is no clinically important neonatal depression with this technique.