Comparative Evaluation in Peridural Anesthesia of Lidocaine, Mepivacaine and L-67, a New Local Anesthetic Agent

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A standardized technique for peridural anesthesia makes it possible to vary only one factor and observe its effect on a variety of anesthetic parameters. In this study the effect of changes in volume or concentration of local anesthetic agents and the effect of addition of epinephrine to local anesthetic agents was evaluated. An increase in volume or concentration of local anesthetic agents results in a decreased latency, increased incidence of complete blockage, increased incidence of muscle relaxation, increased duration of operative analgesia and increased incidence of hypotension. This technique also makes possible the comparative clinical evaluation of different local anesthetic agents. In this study Citanest (L-67), a new local anesthetic, was compared with lidocaine and mepivacaine. The local anesthetic activity of Citanest was found to be comparable to that of lidocaine and mepivacaine in equivalent doses. However, the enhanced safety of Citanest makes possible the use of a 3% solution of this agent. In a 3% concentration, Citanest possesses superior local anesthetic activity than either 2% lidocaine or mepivacaine. No toxic reactions or complications were observed in a series of 538 patients treated with Citanest while the incidence of adequate anesthesia in this group of patients was 97%.