The Influence Of Temperature On Spread Of Intrathecal Levobupıvacaıne

Background: The distrubition of spinal anesthesia is affected by many factors such as the density and viscosity and temperature of the local anesthetics. We aimed to compare the effects of 37 oC plain %0.5 levobupivacaine versus 24oC levobupivacaine in regards of intraoperative anesthetic and postoperative analgesic conditions for patients undergoing arthroscopic menisectomy. Methods: In this randomized, blind, prospective trial a total of fifty three patients aged 17-70 years (ASA I-II) scheduled to have elective ambulatory arthroscopic menisectomy of the knee were randomly allocated into two groups. All patients received intrathecal 3 mL of plain % 0.5 levobupivacaine. Group 1 received the solution that had been previously equilibrated to 37 oC and group 2 received at room temperature(24oC) . Sensory blockade was assessed by loss of pinprick sensation and motor block was assessed using a modified Bromage scale. Readiness of surgery was defined as presence of adequate motor blockade (Bromage ≥ 2) and loss of pinprick sensation at L1 at the operative side. Visual analog scale was used to define patients degree of pain.Results: The mean time required to achive readiness to surgery was 5.07±0.39 minutes in Group 1 and 10.37±1.13 minutes in Group 2 (p 0.05).Conclusions: We showed an increase in initial cephaled migration of block for the first 10 minutes by warming levobupivacaine % 0.5 from room temperature(24oC) to 37oC.