Scalp block with bupivacaine and ropivacaine for attenuation of haemodynamic response to head pinning in neurosurgical patients: An observational study

Objective: Present study was performed to compare the effectiveness of bupivacaine and ropivacaine for scalp block on the haemodynamic response during skull-pin insertion. Materials and Method: Ninety patients who underwent elective craniotomy were divided into two equal groups (n=45). After routine induction, patients were intubated. All the patients received scalp blocks with 20 ml of either 0.5% bupivacaine (group B) or 0.5% ropivacaine (group R) approximately 5 minutes before skull-pins insertion. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at 60sec, 120 sec and 300 sec following head pin insertion. Results: MAP and HR were stable during and after head pinning in both the groups at all time points. Conclusion: Both bupivacaine and ropivacaine for scalp block are equally effective for blunting hemodynamic responses during head pinning. Ropivacaine being less toxic can be a safe alternative for scalp block.