Abstract

 

Aim: Ropivacaine has been recently demonstrated useful for spinal anaesthesia in several studies. In this study, we were aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of two different doses of intrathecal hyperbaric ropivacaine in elderly patients undergoing urological surgery.

Materials and Methods: Fifty male patients (ASA I-III, aged ≥ 65 yr) scheduled for urological surgery were studied. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the two doses of spinal ropivacaine: 15 or 18 mg. Sensory changes were assessed by pinprick test and motor blockage was assessed by modified Bromage score. The haemodynamic variables and adverse events were recorded.

Results: Although the duration of sensory block in group II was longer than group I (223.7 ± 88.1 min and 192.6 ± 61.2 min), the difference between the groups was not significant. Motor block was significantly longer in the group II than in the group I (141.7 ± 43.3 min vs 114.5 ± 25.9 min) (P