Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to study the efficacy and safety of chloroprocaine at two different concentrations as a drug for intravenous regional anesthesia. Chloroprocaine was chosen as the local anesthetic because of its high rate of hydrolysis and low toxicity which permits the use of a large volume without a decrease in concentration. Two groups of patients undergoing elective surgery of the foot and ankle were studied. Group 1 (70 patients) received 60 mi of a 1% solution and Group 2 (140 patients), 60 ml of a 0.75% solution of chloroprocaine. All patients were premedicated with 10 mg diazepam, orally, one hour prior to surgery. Good surgical anesthesia was achieved in each case. The mean body weights and tourniquet times were comparable in both groups. Upon release of the tourniquet, there were fewer cardiovascular and/or cerebral reactions in Group 2 (9.3%) compared with Group 1 (22.9%). The need for analgesics in the first postoperative hour was 24.2% in Group 1, compared with 26.4% in Group 2. No signs of thrombophlebitis were seen in either group.