According to the study, the duration of spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine is often too long for day surgery. A recent study suggested that the addition of a small amount of lidocaine could shorten the duration of sensory and motor blocks.
For the study, 50 patients were randomized to receive 2 mL hyperbaric 0.5 percent bupivacaine and either 0.6 mL 1 percent lidocaine or 0.6 mL saline. The sensory and motor blocks were monitored until complete regression and the patient was ready for discharge. The patients were interviewed two and seven days after the surgery about side effects and signs of transient neurologic syndrome.
According to the abstract, the study could not confirm that the addition of a small dose of lidocaine could shorten the duration of sensory or monitor blocks or make patients ready for discharge sooner.
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