Local analgesic and vascular effects of intradermal ropivacaine and bupivacaine in various concentrations with and without addition of adrenaline in man

Ropivacaine, a new long–acting amino–amide local anaesthetic agent, and bupivacaine, in various concentrations with or without addition of adrenaline, were tested in a randomized, double–blind study using intradermal wheals. Ten non–smoking, healthy, young male volunteers participated. In series I plain solutions of ropivacaine (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) and bupivacaine (0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%) were injected intradermally and in series II the same concentrations, with the addition of adrenaline 5 ug ml^-1 ( 1 :200 000), were used. The same volunteers took part in both series, with an interval of at least three weeks between the experiments. Saline was included as control in both series. Pin–pricking was used to assess the dermal analgesia. Plain solutions of ropivacaine produced significantly longer durations of dermal analgesia than did plain solutions of bupivacaine, in all tested concentrations. A significant increase in duration was seen for both local anaesthetics when adding adrenaline. Local vascular effects at the injected areas were determined by visual inspection (nil, pink, pale). Local blanching (pale) was significantly more frequent for plain solutions of ropivacaine, in all tested concentrations. Local redness (pink) was significantly more frequent with plain bupivacaine, in a dose–dependent relation. An initial redness was frequently observed for both local anaesthetics containing adrenaline, followed by blanching at most sites.