A comparison of isobaric and hyperbaric forms of levobupivacaine used in spinal anaesthesia procedures for inguinal hernia introduction [Inguinal Herni Vakalarinda Spinal Anestezide Kullanilan Levobupivakainin Izobarik ve Hiperbarik Formlarinin Karşilaştirilmasi]

Objective: this study aimed to compare the effects of isobaric and hyperbaric levobipuvacaine on sensory and motor blockade during intrathecal administration for elective inguinal hernia repair in a prospective,randomized,and double-blinded design. methods: patients were allocated to receive 3 ml of either 0.25 % isobaric levobupivacaine (l group,n=20) or hyperbaric levobupivacaine (d group,n=20) intrathecally. the pin-prick test for sensory block and modified bromage score for motor blocks were used. results: comparisons of the groups showed that the degree of maximum motor blockade was statistically significant,and it was higher in group l [2.2 ± 0.8 (1-3) and 1.3 ± 1.1(0-3),p=0.005],while the time intervals to attain maximum degree of motor blockade and the period of motor block of the groups were similar. the degree of maximum blockade was 3 in 45% of the patients in group l and 20% of the patients in group d,while it was 0 in none of the patients in group l and 25 % of the patients in group d. the rates of motor blockade attained in the two groups were statistically significantly different (p=0.035). conclusion: in this study,motor blockade development was significantly lower in the patients who received hyperbaric levobupivacaine; the regression times for sensory and motor blockade were shorter in the hyperbaric group; however,the difference was not statistically significant. we conclude that hiperbaric levobupivacaine is a suitable choice in out-patient spinal anaesthesia practice with regards to less motor block degree and duration than with isobaric levobupivacaine.