Continuous mini-infusion of bupivacaine into the epidural space during labor. Part II: Blood concentration of bupivacaine. 1979

A Matouskova, and B Hanson

Mini-infusion of 0.25 per cent bupivacaine plain into the epidural space was used in 16 healthy women for pain relief during labor. After a loading dose, continuous administration was ensured by using an automatic pump at an infusion rate of 5 or 8 ml per hour. Maternal venous blood concentrations of bupivacaine were determined 20, 40, and 60 minutes after the loading dose. Further samples were taken hourly until delivery. Fetal blood concentrations were determined from fetal scalp blood during mini-infusion, and from umbilical venous blood at delivery. Maternal blood levels averaged 206 ng/ml. The maximum concentration (604 ng/ml) did not exceed 30 per cent of the toxic level. The blood concentration of bupivacaine did not tend to increase during the course of continuous infusion. Tachyphylaxis could not be detected statistically. The fetal blood concentration during blockade averaged 58 ng/ml, giving a feto-maternal ratio of 0.28. The neonatal-maternal ratio, calculated from the umbilical venous blood, was 0.32. With a shift of the acid-base status towards acidosis in the neonate, the ration of bupivacaine slightly increased. Absence of maternal hypotension as well as absence of fetal heart irregularities during infusion may be attributed to the low and stable blood concentration of bupivacaine. The mean Apgar score was 9.5 at one minute and 9.9 at five minutes. The maternal arterial acid-base balance at delivery was normal. The fetal acid-base status at delivery showed wide variation, without any relation to the Apgar score or the total dose of bupivacaine. It is concluded that continuous mini-infusion of bupivacaine by means of an automatic pump has advantages over intermittent administration.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007263 Infusions, Parenteral The administration of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through some other route than the alimentary canal, usually over minutes or hours, either by gravity flow or often by infusion pumping. Intra-Abdominal Infusions,Intraperitoneal Infusions,Parenteral Infusions,Peritoneal Infusions,Infusion, Intra-Abdominal,Infusion, Intraperitoneal,Infusion, Parenteral,Infusion, Peritoneal,Infusions, Intra-Abdominal,Infusions, Intraperitoneal,Infusions, Peritoneal,Intra Abdominal Infusions,Intra-Abdominal Infusion,Intraperitoneal Infusion,Parenteral Infusion,Peritoneal Infusion
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D002045 Bupivacaine A widely used local anesthetic agent. 1-Butyl-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-piperidinecarboxamide,Bupivacain Janapharm,Bupivacain-RPR,Bupivacaina Braun,Bupivacaine Anhydrous,Bupivacaine Carbonate,Bupivacaine Hydrochloride,Bupivacaine Monohydrochloride, Monohydrate,Buvacaina,Carbostesin,Dolanaest,Marcain,Marcaine,Sensorcaine,Svedocain Sin Vasoconstr,Bupivacain RPR
D005069 Evaluation Studies as Topic Works about studies that determine the effectiveness or value of processes, personnel, and equipment, or the material on conducting such studies. Critique,Evaluation Indexes,Evaluation Methodology,Evaluation Report,Evaluation Research,Methodology, Evaluation,Pre-Post Tests,Qualitative Evaluation,Quantitative Evaluation,Theoretical Effectiveness,Use-Effectiveness,Critiques,Effectiveness, Theoretical,Evaluation Methodologies,Evaluation Reports,Evaluation, Qualitative,Evaluation, Quantitative,Evaluations, Qualitative,Evaluations, Quantitative,Indexes, Evaluation,Methodologies, Evaluation,Pre Post Tests,Pre-Post Test,Qualitative Evaluations,Quantitative Evaluations,Report, Evaluation,Reports, Evaluation,Research, Evaluation,Test, Pre-Post,Tests, Pre-Post,Use Effectiveness
D005260 Female Females
D005312 Fetal Blood Blood of the fetus. Exchange of nutrients and waste between the fetal and maternal blood occurs via the PLACENTA. The cord blood is blood contained in the umbilical vessels (UMBILICAL CORD) at the time of delivery. Cord Blood,Umbilical Cord Blood,Blood, Cord,Blood, Fetal,Blood, Umbilical Cord,Bloods, Cord,Bloods, Fetal,Bloods, Umbilical Cord,Cord Blood, Umbilical,Cord Bloods,Cord Bloods, Umbilical,Fetal Bloods,Umbilical Cord Bloods
D005333 Fetus The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000767 Anesthesia, Epidural Procedure in which an anesthetic is injected into the epidural space. Anesthesia, Extradural,Anesthesia, Peridural,Epidural Anesthesia,Anesthesias, Epidural,Anesthesias, Extradural,Anesthesias, Peridural,Epidural Anesthesias,Extradural Anesthesia,Extradural Anesthesias,Peridural Anesthesia,Peridural Anesthesias

Related Publications

A Matouskova, and B Hanson
March 1982, The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association,
A Matouskova, and B Hanson
January 1982, Anesteziologiia i reanimatologiia,
A Matouskova, and B Hanson
May 1990, Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie,
A Matouskova, and B Hanson
January 1996, Regional anesthesia,
A Matouskova, and B Hanson
September 1992, International journal of obstetric anesthesia,
A Matouskova, and B Hanson
November 1986, Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet,
Copied contents to your clipboard!