Interscalene Brachial Plexus Anesthesia and Analgesia for Open Shoulder Surgery: A Randomized, Double-Blinded Comparison Between Levobupivacaine and Ropivacaine

Abstract

This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study demonstrates that 30 mL of 0.5% levobupivacaine produces an interscalene brachial plexus block of similar onset and quality as the one produced by the same volume of 0.5% ropivacaine. When prolonging the block after surgery, 0.125% levobupivacaine provides adequate pain relief and recovery of motor function after open shoulder surgery, with less volume infused during the first 24 h after surgery than 0.2% ropivacaine.

A Comparative Study of Bupivacaine 0.5%, Ropivacaine 0.5% and Levobupivacaine 0.5% in Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Upper Limb Surgeries in Adults

“…6 Andrea Casati et al also found out that the intensity of block produced by 30 mL of 0.5 % Levobupivacaine is similar to that produced by 30 mL of 0.5% Ropivacaine. 4 Our study conforms to the findings of the above studies, which have stated that the duration of sensory and motor block at equal concentrations of Bupivacaine, Ropivacaine and Levobupivacaine are similar, when used for Interscalene approach to Brachial Plexus Block.…”

“…4 Stephen M Klein et al also observed that the onset times, in 3 groups of patients receiving 30 mL of 0.5% Bupivacaine, 0.5% Ropivacaine and 0.75% Ropivacaine under Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block, showed no difference in the time to onset to sensory and motor onset. 5 Eroglu et al in their comparative study for Interscalene Brachial Plexus Anaesthesia found out that the mean onset time with Ropivacaine was 18±12 minutes and 21±13 minutes for Bupivacaine when used in same volume and concentration (30 mL of 0.5%).…”

The postoperative analgesic effects of intra-articular levobupivacaine in elective day-case arthroscopy of the knee: a prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical study

“…It has also been shown to be comparable to ropivacaine [3]. We did not include any bupivacaine groups in the study and are therefore not able to confirm levobupivacaine's similarities to racemate bupivacaine.…”

A Comparison of Levobupivacaine and Ropivacaine for Interscalene and Femoral Nerve Blocks: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Prospective Clinical Trial

“…Clinical studies have shown that ropivacaine and levobupivacaine are effective in providing peripheral nerve analgesia when used for upper or lower limb surgery, but little information is available regarding their comparable clinical profile [21,22]. Few studies have compared the clinical profile of levobupivacaine and ropivacaine for brachial plexus block or femoral nerve block.…”