A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE AND LEVOBUPIVACAINE IN LOWER LIMB SURGERIES UNDER SPINAL ANAESTHESIA

Abstract

Background: Hyperbaric racemic bupivacaine is commonly used for spinal anaesthesia 
however racemic bupivacaine has some drawbacks. It has a high propensity to cause 
hypotension and bradycardia following intrathecal injection, and catastrophic cardiac toxicity 
due to the high affinity to cardiac myocytes. Levobupivacaine has a lower affinity for cardiac 
sodium channels. thus, reducing the risk of cardio toxicity. Aim: To compare Intraoperative 
quality, duration & complications of anaesthesia in patients undergoing lower limb surgeries 
with hyperbaric racemic bupivacaine and levobupivacaine administered intrathecally.