A Study to Evaluate Intrathecal 1% Chloroprocaine and 0.5% Levobupivacaine in Perianal Surgeries: A Prospective Randomized Study

BACKGROUND: With increasing focus on outpatient care, there has been an increased demand for short-acting spinal anesthetics, facilitating early recovery and mobilization of the patient. AIMS: The aim of the study was to compare 1% chloroprocaine, characterized by short latency and short duration with 0.5% levobupivacaine, which has shown to preserve motor function at low concentrations, with recovery from motor block as the primary objective and recovery from sensory block and hemodynamic stability as secondary objectives. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A prospective study to evaluate newer isobaric chloroprocaine and levobupivacaine intrathecally in a cohort of patients using randomization and double blinding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status Classes I and II patients undergoing perianal surgeries were randomly divided into Group C (n = 30) receiving intrathecal 1% chloroprocaine 3 mL and Group L (n = 30) receiving 0.5% levobupivacaine 1.5 mL. Patients were assessed for sensory and motor block characteristics, hemodynamic changes, period of analgesia, time for ambulation, and urination. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Qualitative data were analyzed using Chi-square test and quantitative data using Independent t-test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in highest sensory level, onset of motor block, maximum Bromage scale achieved, and hemodynamic changes between the two groups. There was a significant difference in mean Time for Maximum Bromage scale, Time for Sensory regression (Lumbar-L(1)), Duration of Motor Block (Group C 50.7 ± 5.7 min and Group L 181 ± 27.8 min), Time for rescue Analgesia, Time for 1(st) void, and Time for ambulation (Group C 88.3 ± 9.1 min and Group L(2) 06.7 ± 27.2 min) between chloroprocaine and levobupivacaine group. The above duration was shorter in chloroprocaine group than in levobupivacaine group. CONCLUSION: Thus, chloroprocaine provides good surgical anesthesia and early motor recovery than levobupivacaine and is well suited for day care surgeries.