Sadqa Aftab, Hamid Ali, Safia Zafar, Murtaza Sheikh, Tipu Sultan.
Intrathecal isobaric versus hyperbaric bupivacaine for elective Cesarean section.
Pak J Surg Jan ;23(4):296-301.

Objective: To compare the results of isobaric bupivacaine (0.5%) with hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.75%) in cases of elective Caesarean Section, in respect of time to sensory analgesia, highest level of sensory block, haemodynamic effects, and complications. Design & Duration: Interventional, experimental study from March 2003 to March 2004. Setting: Department of Anaesthesiology and Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital, Karachi. Patients: Sixty pregnant patients scheduled for elective Caesarean Section. Methodology: The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine (Group-1B) or 0.75% hyperbaric bupivacaine (Group-HB) via intrathecal route. The time of onset of block, highest level of sensory block, cardio-respiratory data, duration of analgesia and complications were recorded during surgery. Results: The time taken to reach T4 sensory analgesia in Group-IB was 6±6.43 minutes as compared to 6.93±.7.8 minutes in Group-HB, while the highest sensory level achieved in Group-IB was TI and in Group-HB T2. The lowest systolic blood pressure recorded in Group-IB was 83.27±12.69 mmHg and in Group-HB 114.33+13.83 mm Hg, the difference being significant (p<0.05). There was a higher incidence of complications in Group-IB as compared to Group-HB like high spinal analgesia, vomiting and discomfort. Conclusion: Intrathecal block showed a greater reduction in the systolic blood pressure, and associated complications, with Isobaric Bupivacaine as compared to Hyperbaric Bupivacaine.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com