Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 36, 515-518, Copyright © 1989 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

ARTICLES

pH-adjustment of 2-chloroprocaine quickens the onset of epidural anaesthesia

RA Stevens, WL Chester, A Schubert, D Brandon, JA Grueter and J Zumrick
Department of Anesthesiology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814.

The effect of pH-adjustment of three per cent 2-chloroprocaine (2-CP, Nesacaine MPF) on the onset, duration, and spread of epidural analgesia and anaesthesia was studied in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery. Forty ASA physical status I and II patients were randomized to two groups. In a double-blinded fashion, patients in both groups received an epidural injection of 15 ml of local anaesthetic (LA) solution via a Tuohy needle at the L3-4 interspace. Local anaesthesia for Group I was prepared by adding 3 mEq NaHCO3 to 27 ml three per cent 2-CP and for Group II was prepared by adding 3 ml 0.9 per cent NaCl to 27 ml three per cent 2-CP. Both solutions contained epinephrine (1:200,000). The pH of commercially prepared Nesacaine MPF was 3.19 +/- 0.02. The pH of the solutions used for Group I and Group II patients were 7.32 +/- 0.01 and 3.27 +/- 0.02, respectively. Times to analgesia and anaesthesia at the L2 dermatome were significantly decreased in Group I patients by 2.5 and 6.6 minutes, respectively. Likewise, pH-adjustment accelerated the attainment of maximum level of block by 2.8 min. No statistical differences were found between groups in the maximum level of epidural block, or in time to 2-segment regression. No precipitation of LA was observed in pH-adjusted solutions of 2-CP after 24 hours. We recommend the use of pH-adjusted three per cent 2-CP (Nesacaine MPF) to accelerate the onset of epidural block.

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				K. B. Na and D. J. Kopacz Spinal Chloroprocaine Solutions: Density at 37{degrees} C and pH Titration Anesth. Analg., January 1, 2004; 98(1): 70 - 74. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]