ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to study the analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine and compare it with that of Lidocaine in intravenous regional anesthesia. Fifty patients of physical status ASA I and II, aged 20-50 years undergoing ambulatory hand surgery were randomly allocated to two equal groups of 25 each. Patients in either group received either 40 ml of 0.5% lidocaine or 40 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine. The onset, duration and recovery times of sensory and motor block,time to the request for first analgesic, incidence of rescue medication and total analgesic consumption in first 24 hours were recorded. The recovery time of sensory block was significantly prolonged but the onset of sensory block was delayed in Ropivacaine Group as compared to patients in Lidocaine Group. Time to the request for first analgesic was significantly prolonged while the incidence of rescue medication and total analgesic consumption was significantly low in patients receiving ropivacaine. No statistically significant difference was found in onset and duration of motor block between the two groups. It was concluded that ropivacaine is a better alternative to Lidocaine for intravenous regional anesthesia and provides a prolonged post-torniquet release pain relief as compared to Lidocaine