Comparison of Intrathecal Chloroprocaine With Bupivacaine in Short Gynecological Procedures: A Randomized Double-Blind Study

Background Neuraxial anesthesia, compared to general anesthesia, offers better patient comfort, early ambulation, and discharge with excellent post-operative pain relief for short gynecological procedures. Recently chloroprocaine, a short-acting local anesthetic agent became available for intrathecal use. This study aimed to compare intrathecal chloroprocaine with bupivacaine in short gynecological procedures. Methodology Consecutive patients undergoing short gynecological procedures, patients belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) I and II, between 18 and 60 years of age, and patients with a height between 150 cm and 180 cm were included in the study. Randomization was done using a computer-generated random number table. Patients were allocated to one of the two study groups. Group B received 4 mL of isobaric bupivacaine (0.25%) 10 mg intrathecal, and Group C received 4 mL of isobaric chloroprocaine (1%) 40 mg intrathecal. The primary outcome criteria were time to ambulation and discharge readiness. The secondary outcome criteria were onset, duration, and intensity of sensory and motor blockade, time to voiding, and any adverse effects. Results Patients receiving chloroprocaine had a significantly (p=0.001) faster time (158 +/- 31 min) to ambulation compared to bupivacaine (241 +/- 23 min). The regression of sensory blockade was substantially faster (p=0.001) with chloroprocaine (60 +/- 13 min) than with bupivacaine (94 +/- 24 min). Mean time to motor onset was significantly (p=0.05) faster in chloroprocaine (8 +/- 3 min) than bupivacaine (12 +/- 3 min) group. Significantly faster (p=0.001) recovery of motor blockade was observed with chloroprocaine (130 +/- 32 min) than bupivacaine (211 +/- 22 min). The time to first voiding was also significantly earlier with stable hemodynamics and no adverse effects in chloroprocaine group. Conclusion Intrathecal chloroprocaine may be an attractive alternative and is superior to isobaric bupivacaine as it provides early ambulation and discharge readiness for daycare anesthesia in short gynecological procedures.