ABSTRACT
The effect of glucose-free bupivacaine were compared among thirty patients scheduled for urologic or orthopedic surgery. Different volumes of bupivacaine(2,3 and 4ml) were used for each group of patients. Patients were positioned in the supine position just after spinal tapping. The results are summarized as follows: 1) No statistical significance was found for each group of patients in age, height, and operation time. 2) The maximal height of sensory spread tended to increase as the amount of bupivacaine increased. It was T1-10 for the first group(2ml), T8-6 for the second(3ml), and T6-5 for the third(4ml). 3) The time to maximal cephalad spread of analgesia tended to increase as the amount of bupivacaine increased. It was 14 minutes for the first group, 16 minutes for the second and 19 minutes for the third. 4) The duration of analgesia by bupivacaine is considered to be slightly longer than that by tetracaine. 5) The degree of complete motor blockade at L1-2 was 80% for the first group, and 100% for the second by third group. Therefore, spinal anesthesia with glucose-free bupivacaine is considered to be satisfactory for lengthy operations of perianal or urologic procedures and lower extremity surgery.