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Ropivacaine is not the S–isomer of bupivacaine

Congella, South Africa

To the editor:

In their recent paper, Lim et al. incorrectly referred to ropivacaine as the S-isomer of bupivacaine.¹

Ropivacaine and bupivacaine are amino-amide local anesthetics belonging to the pipecoloxylidide group.² A propyl or butyl group on the piperidine nitrogen atom distinguishes the two; ropivacaine being the former and bupivacaine the latter.²

These local anesthetics are chiral compounds.² Although ropivacaine is a S (-) isomer, levobupivacaine is the true S (-) isomer of racemic bupivacaine.³

References

1 Lim NLSH, Lo WK, Chong JL, Pan AX. Single dose diclofenac suppository reduces post-Cesarean PCEA requirements. Can J Anesth 2001; 48: 383–6.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

2 McClure JH. Ropivacaine. Br J Anaesth 1996; 76: 300–7.[Free Full Text]

3 McLoed GA, Burke D. Levobupivacaine. Anaesthesia 2001; 56: 331–41.[Medline]

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