Ropivacaine 0.5 percents versus levobupivacaine 0.5 percents for bilateral paravertebral block for anterior abdominal wall hernias repair in hepatic insufficiency patients

ABSTRACT

In this study, the efficacy of BPVB via a catheter technique was prospectively compared with the use of two different local anesthetics, ropivacaine 0.5% and levobupivacaine 0.5%, for midline hernias in hepatic insufficiency patients due to schistosomal and non- schistosomal etiology. Thirty-four patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive BPVB either with ropivacaine 0.5% or levobupivacaine 0.5%. The variables of efficacy were the postoperative pain measured on a visual analog scale, postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV], recovery time and the patient satisfaction. The postoperative pain visual analogue scale scores in groups I and II were comparable in the postoperative period. In both groups, PONV was nearly absent. There was no difference in the recovery time. Patient satisfaction was similar in both groups. There was one inadvertent epidural block and one inadvertent pleural puncture in group II. Meanwhile, BPVB resulted in a good postoperative pain relief with a low incidence of PONV considering that the technique has a minimal complication rate