EFFECT OF BARICITY ON SPINAL ANAESTHESIA WITH BUPIVACAINE

In a double-blind study of spinal anaesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine3 ml with no glucose, 5% glucose or 8% glucose all three solutionsgave consistently good nerve blocks. The hyperbaric solutions(5% and 8% glucose) produced a greater cephalad spread and weresuitable for lower abdominal surgery, whereas the plain solution(no glucose) seldom affected the thoracic nerves. Cardiovascularchanges were more marked with the hyperbaric solutions but onlynecessitated treatment on two occasions. The duration of blockwas not affected by baricity and was in the range 140–160min.