A Prospective, Randomised, Double-Blind Comparative Clinical Study of 0.5% Bupivacaine and 0.75% Ropivacaine for Sciatic Nerve Block in Patients Undergoing Elective Below Knee Surgeries

Abstract

BACKGROUNDSciatic nerve block is a useful technique for unilateral lower limb surgeries. Bupivacaine is the most commonly used long acting amide local anaesthetic agent for peripheral nerve blockade. Ropivacaine, a newly introduced amide local anaesthetic is similar to Bupivacaine in structure, less potent than bupivacaine and lacks cardiotoxic potential of Bupivacaine. Hence, this study is taken up to compare the block characteristics of equipotent doses of Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine.