SPINAL ANALGESIA WITH HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE: INFLUENCE OF AGE

The effects of age were investigated on characteristics of spinalanalgesia with hyperbaric bupivacaine in 38 younger patients(<50yr: group I), and 48 older patients (>80 yr: groupII). Four millilitre of 0.375% bupivacaine in 2.5% dextrosewas injected via the L3–4 space in a lateral position,and the patients were immediately turned supine. In group II,the time to maximum spread was significantly shorter, and thesensory spinal blockade higher (one derma-tome) than in groupI. The mean sensory recovery of the two uppermost segments didnot differ between the two groups. The mean duration of analgesiaat the L2 level was increased by only 15min in the older group.Complete motor blockade of the lower limbs developed most rapidlyin group II, while duration of all degrees of motor blockadedid not differ significantly with age. Because of great individualvariation, the clinical significance of such differences islimited. In the older group, there was a greater decrease insystolic arterial pressure from resting values, despite rapidinfusion of lactated Ringer's solution.