Failure of phenylephrine to prolong isobaric bupivacaine spinal anesthesia in elderly patients.

Background And Objectives: The effects of phenylephrine on the duration of spinal anesthesia produced by plain bupivacaine were investigated in a double-blind study of 100 elderly patients.

Methods: Each patient received a basic solution of 3 ml 0.5% plain bupivacaine to which was added either 1 ml physiologic saline, 0.

[Metaraminol does not prolong the duration of spinal anesthesia using glucose-free bupivacaine in the upper dermatomes].

The effects of metaraminol on the duration of plain bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia were investigated in a double-blind study of 80 elderly patients. Each patient received a basic solution of 0.5% plain bupivacaine to which was added either physiological saline, or 1 mg, 2 mg or 3 mg metaraminol.

[Sedation with flunitrazepam during spinal anesthesia].

The clinical effects of flunitrazepam (FNZ) as IV sedative agent for spinal anaesthesia was studied. Of 112 elderly patients undergoing hip surgery, 40.2% have required a total dose of 26.

[Spinal anesthesia with isobaric 0.5% bupivacaine. Effect of age].

The effects of age on the characteristics of spinal anaesthesia with plain bupivacaine were investigated in 29 adult patients (less than 50 yr : group I), and 37 older patients (greater than or equal to 80 yr : group II). Three millilitres of 0.5% solution (15 mg) were injected at the L3-L4 interspace in the lateral position; the patients were turned supine immediately afterwards.

[Spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine for surgery of the hip in the elderly].

In 60 elderly patients, spinal anaesthesia for orthopaedic hip surgery was induced randomly with 15 mg bupivacaine 0.375% without glucose (Group I), 2.5% glucose (Group II) or 7.

[Sciatic nerve block by the anterior approach in surgery of the legs].

Forty-four sciatic nerve blocks were performed by the anterior route in combination with forty-four "3-in-1" blocks and seven lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks. The use of radioscopy for determining the anatomic injection points made the technique easier and safer. It was preferred for patients in whom general anaesthesia was not desirable for lower limb surgery.