Dextrose affects gravitational spread of epidural anesthesia

Chloroprocaine, 0.5 per cent, with physiologic saline solution, has a specific gravity of 1.007 and a osmolarity of 283 mOsm/l, which increase to a specific gravity of 1.025 and an osmolarity of 542 mOsm/l when chloroprocaine is prepared in dextrose, 5 per cent. Chloroprocaine, 2.7 per cent, shows similar increases in specific gravity and osmolarity with dextrose 5 per cent. The highest sensory anesthesia level attained in pregnant patients following epidural injection of 10 ml of each of these solutions was determined. Chloroprocaine in dextrose, 5 per cent, produced a significant lowering of the highest sensory anesthesia level attained, compared with solutions to which dextrose was not added.