Evaluacion de ropivacaina 0,2% frente a bupivacaina 0,25% para anestesia regional pediatrica

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of epidural administration of ropivacaine 0.20% vs bupivacaine 0.25% in children undergoin urologic procedures (hypospadia repairs). Materials and methods: In a prospective, randomized, double blind study 72 children aged 2-7 years undergoing hypospadia repairs were randomly allocated to receive 1 ml.k^-1 of either 0.2% ropivacaine or 0.25% bupivacaine after induction of light general anesthesia. Vital parameters were recorded intraoperatively and postoperatively; the onset time of block and the duration of postoperative analesia were also evaluated. Results: The groups were comparable for age, weight vital parameters, onset time and duration of surgery. No motor block was observed at awakening in both groups. The postoperative pain scores were lower in ropivacaine group: the mean time for first analgesic request was of 300 min in ropivacaine group and 225 in bupivacaine group. No adverse effects were observed. Conclusions: Ropivacaine 0.2% 1 ml.k^-1 was effective for epidural anesthesia in children as bupivacaine 0.25%; ropivacaine gave a superior analgesia not only in terms of duration but also in quality. (C) 2000 Sociedad Espanola del Dolor.