Isobaric bupivacaine and hyperbaric amethocaine for spinal analgesia. A clinical comparison

A 15 mg dose of isobaric bupivacaine 0.5% solution for spinal analgesia was compared with a clinically indicated dose of hyperbaric amethocaine 1% solution (10-16 mg) in 123 patients undergoing orthopaedic, urological and general surgical procedures. The 63 patients who received bupivacaine had a more limited spread of analgesia, which lasted longer and was accompanied by less hypotension and fewer complications than those who received amethocaine.