Comparing low-dose bupivacaine with epidural volume extension to standard bupivacaine dosing for short obstetric procedures: a prospective, randomized study.

Background: Intrathecal bupivacaine's long duration of action can unnecessarily increase the time to meet Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) discharge criteria for patients undergoing short obstetric procedures. We sought to use a technique known as epidural volume extension (EVE) to determine if we could provide an adequate surgical block while significantly decreasing the time required to meet PACU discharge criteria for patients undergoing short obstetric procedures.

Methods: Fifty participants were randomized into two groups.