Spino

Bupivacaineis a long acting anaesthetic agent of the amide type. Bupivacaine & Dextrosehas a rapid onset of action and long duration. The duration of analgesia in the T10-T12 segments is 2-3 hours. Bupivacaine Hydrochloride produces a moderate muscular relaxation of the lower extremities lasting 2-2.5 hours. The motor blockade of the abdominal muscles makes the solution suitable for performance of abdominal surgery lasting 45-60 minutes.

Bupivacaine should be used with care in patients receiving antiarrhythmic drugs with local anaesthetic activity, as their toxic effects may be additive. Phenothiazines and Butyrophenones may reduce or reverse the pressor effect of epinephrine.

The adverse reaction profile for Bupivacaine is similar to those for other long acting local anesthetics administered intrathecally. Adverse reactions caused by the drug are difficult to distinguish from the physiological effects of the nerve block (e.g. decrease in blood pressure, bradycardia, temporary urinary retention), events caused directly (e.g. nerve trauma) or indirectly (e.g. epidural abscess) by the needle puncture or events associated to cerebrospinal leakage (eg. postdural puncture headache).

It is reasonable to assume that a large number of pregnant women and women of child-bearing age have been given Bupivacaine. No specific disturbances to the reproductive process have so far been reported, e.g. no increased incidence of malformations. It should be noted that the dose should be reduced in patients in the late stages of pregnancy

With recommended doses, Bupivacaine enters breast milk in such small quantities that there is generally no risk of affecting the breast feed child. At maternal serum levels of up to 0.45 µg/ml produced by the epidural use of Bupivacaine for vaginal delivery, Bupivacaine could not be detected in breast milk during the first 24 hours after delivery (detection limit 0.02 µg/ml).

Bupivacaine should be given cautiously to the elderly, the debilitated patients and to children, to patients with epilepsy, respiratory impairment, impaired cardiac conduction, bradycardia, severe shock; porphyria; myasthenia gravis. Myocardial depression may be more severe and more resistant to treatment.

Use in children: Bupivacaine Hydrochloride is not recommended in patients younger than 18 years of age.

Use in elderly and renal impairment: Patients in poor general condition due to ageing or other compromising factors such as partial or complete heart conduction block, advanced liver or renal dysfunction require special attention, although regional anesthesia may be the optimal choice for surgery in these patients.

Regional anesthesia

Acute emergencies from local anaesthetics are generally related to high plasma levels encountered during therapeutic use or to underventilation (and perhaps apnea) secondary to upward extension of spinal anaesthesia. Hypotension is commonly encountered during the conduct of spinal anaesthesia due to relaxation of sympathetic tone, and sometimes, contributory mechanical obstruction of venous return.

Store in a cool and dry place. Protect from light.