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OBSTETRIC ANESTHESIA

The Relative Potencies for Motor Block After Intrathecal Ropivacaine, Levobupivacaine, and Bupivacaine

Michela Camorcia, MD^*, Giorgio Capogna, MD^*, Cristiana Berritta, MD^*, and Malachy O. Columb, FRCA

From the *Department of Anesthesia, Città di Roma Hospital, Roma, Italy; and Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Medicine, South Manchester University Hospital, Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Michela Camorcia, MD, Department of Anesthesia, Città di Roma Hospital, Via Maidalchini 20, 00152 Roma, Italy. Address e-mail to michela_camorcia{at}yahoo.it.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we sought to determine the median effective dose (ED₅₀) for motor block of intrathecal ropivacaine, levobupivacaine, and bupivacaine and to define their motor-blocking potency ratios.

METHODS: We enrolled 104 parturients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with combined spinal-epidural anesthesia and randomized them to one of three groups to receive intrathecal 0.5% (wt/vol) ropivacaine, levobupivacaine, or bupivacaine. The initial dose was 4 mg, and the testing interval was set at 1 mg. Efficacy was determined by the occurrence of any motor block in either lower limb (modified Bromage and hip motor function scale) within 5 min after the spinal injection.

RESULTS: As assessed using up-down analysis, intrathecal ED₅₀ for motor block was 5.79 mg for ropivacaine (95% CI 4.62–6.96), 4.83 mg for levobupivacaine (95% CI 4.35–5.32) and 3.44 mg for bupivacaine (95% CI 2.55–4.34) (P < 0.0007). The relative motor blocking potency ratios were ropivacaine/bupivacaine 0.59 (95% CI, 0.42–0.82), ropivacaine/levobupivacaine 0.83 (95% CI 0.64–1.09), and levobupivacaine/bupivacaine 0.71 (95% CI 0.51–0.98).

CONCLUSIONS: There is a clinical profile of potency for motor block for the pipecolylxylidines when administered spinally: low, intermediate, and high for ropivacaine, levobupivacaine, and bupivacaine, respectively.

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