Efficacy of sufentanil addition to ropivacaine epidural anaesthesia for Caesarean section.

Background: This prospective double-blind trial evaluated the effect of sufentanil addition to epidural ropivacaine for elective Caesarean section.

Methods: Sixty healthy parturients were randomly assigned to receive an initial dose of 90 mg of plain ropivacaine, or 90 mg of ropivacaine plus 10 or 20 microg of sufentanil (n = 20 each). Before surgery, if necessary, additional epidural ropivacaine was injected.

Epidural ropivacaine 1% with and without sufentanil addition for Caesarean section.

Background: So far only ropivacaine concentrations of 0.5 and 0.75% have been used for Caesarean section.