RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison of Bupivacaine and Tetracaine for Spinal Anesthesia JF Regional Anesthesia: The Journal of Neural Blockade in Obstetrics, Surgery, & Pain Control JO Reg Anesth Pain Med FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 62 OP 67 DO 10.1136/rapm-00115550-198409020-00002 VO 9 IS 2 A1 M. J.M. Gielen A1 P. M.R.M. deGrood A1 H. H. Edstrom A1 J. F. Crul YR 1984 UL http://rapm.bmj.com/content/9/2/62.abstract AB Three ml of glucose-free 0.5% and 0.75% bupivacaine and hyperbaric (8% glucose) 0.5% bupivacaine and 0.5% tetracaine administered intrathecally were compared in a double-blind study in 80 surgical patients. Following the injections the patient remained in a sitting position for 2 minutes before being turned supine. A T10 level of analgesia was achieved in 15 minutes for all solutions studied, while 20 to 30 minutes were required for maximum cephalad spread of analgesia (T7-T9). Motor blockade of the lower limbs developed quickly and reached its maximum in approximately 10 minutes for all solutions. Duration of motor blockade was significantly longer with 0.75% bupivacaine; whereas hyperbaric 0.5% bupivacaine provided the shortest duration of motor blockade. The longest duration of analgesia at L5 (approximately 4.5 hours) and of complete motor blockade of the lower limbs (approximately 3.5 hours) was recorded in the patients given 0.75% bupivacaine. Three cases of postspinal headache were observed.