Application of ropivacaine 0.5% with bupivacaine 0.5% for spinal anaesthesia in children

Objective To evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of 0.5% ropivacaine for spinal anesthesia and compare with 0.5%bupivacaine in children. Methods Forty -eight ASA I～II children, scheduled for low abdominal surgery and lower limb operations were randomly allocated into two groups. Group R was received 0.5% ropivacaine, Group B received 0.5%bupivacained. The onset time and duration, the upper level of analgesia, degree of motor block, and the first micturition were recorded. The vital signs of the kids were recorded during the surgery, pH of the CSF was also examinated. Results Patients in group R was recovered immediately after operation, the degree of the motor block was below than Bromage I, but 5 cases were changed the anesthesia due to unsatisfactory analgesia block. Conclusion When 0.5% ropivacaine used for spinal anesthesia, the analgesic efficacy is no better than bupivacaine, but its motor block is less and its complications are less. Ropivacaine is suitable for small operation under spinal anesthesia in children.