Comparison of bupivacaine and 2-chloroprocaine for spinal anesthesia for outpatient surgery: a double-blind randomized trial.

Background: We have always been searching for the ideal local anesthetic for outpatient spinal anesthesia. Lidocaine has been associated with a high incidence of transient neurological symptoms, and bupivacaine produces sensory and motor blocks of long duration. Preservative-free 2-chloroprocaine (2-CP) seems to be a promising alternative, being a short-acting agent of increasing popularity in recent years.