A Double-Blind Study of Bupivacaine and Etidocaine For Epidural (Peridural) Block

Abstract

In a double-blind comparison of two long-acting local anesthetic agents, 0.75 percent bupivacaine and 1 percent etidocaine, using epidural block for abdominal hysterectomy, no significant differences occurred in: (1) onset of sensory anesthesia, (2) time for establishment of maximum sensory anesthesia, (3) maximum dermatome level of sensory anesthesia, (4) relaxation of the abdominal musculature, or (5) degree of motor blockade of the extremities. However, the following significant differences between the two agents were noted: (1) satisfactory anesthesia occurred in 24 of 25 patients with 0.75 percent bupivacaine and in only 12 of 25 patients with 1 percent etidocaine; (2) motor anesthesia of the extremities occurred more rapidly with etidocaine; (3) duration of motor anesthesia of the extremities, time for regression of sensory anesthesia, and duration of sensory anesthesia were markedly longer with bupivacaine; and (4) the time from injection of local anesthetic solution into the epidural space until the patient requested a narcotic for pain in the operative site was also longer with bupivacaine.