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Anesth Analg 1986; 65:123-126
© 1986 International Anesthesia Research Society
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Effect of Pregnancy on Bupivacaine-Induced Conduction Blockade in the Isolated Rabbit Vagus Nerve

Hugh L. Flanagan, MD, Sanjay Datta, MD, Donald H. Lambert, PhD, MD, Aaron J. Gissen, MD, and Benjamin G. Covino, PhD, MD

Department of Anesthesia Research Laboratories, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

Abstract

Bupivacaine-induced conduction blockade of A, B, and C fibers of the isolated vagus nerve was compared in fourteen pregnant and fourteen nonpregnant rabbits. After a control period in HEPES-Liley solution, the isolated nerves were exposed to bupivacaine concentrations of 0.1 mM to 1.0 mM. After 30 min exposure, the nerves were stimulated supramaximally and the percent reduction in amplitude of A, B, and C fiber compound action potentials was recorded. Linear regressions were fitted by the least squares method.

The A fiber conduction blockade was consistently greater in the nerves from pregnant rabbits (P < 0.001). The slope of the C fiber dose–response curves was also significantly greater in nerves from pregnant rabbits (P < 0.01). The results indicate that the response of isolated nerves from pregnant animals to local anesthetic-induced conduction blockade differs from that of nerves from nonpregnant animals. However, it is not certain whether the difference is related simply to a more rapid diffusion and shorter onset of block or an enhanced sensitivity of the nerve membrane during pregnancy.

Key Words: ANESTHETICS, local—bupivacaine. • ANESTHESIA—obstetric.






Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999 HighWire Press
Copyright © 1986 by the International Anesthesia Research Society.