CLINICAL EVALUATION OF EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE BLOCK INJ. LEVOBUPIVACAINE AND INJ. ROPIVACAINE FOR POST OPERATIVE ANALGESIA FOLLOWING LOWER SEGMENT CESAREAN SECTION : A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE BLIND STUDY

Backgrounds and Aims :Levobupivacaine is a pure S-enantiomer of bupivacaine with similar anesthetic profile and with reduced toxic potential than racemic bupivacaine.This study aims to compare efficacy and safety of Transverse Abdominal Plane block inj. Levobupivacaine Vs. Inj. Ropivacaine for post operative analgesia following lower segment cesarean section. Methods and Material:A prospective, randomized, controlled, double blind clinical study. 60 patients divided in 2 groups by computer generated randomization.60 healthy women undergoing cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia were randomized into two groups (Group I, Group II). Group I received TAP block with 15 ml of 0.25% ropivacaine while Group II received TAP block with 15 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine on each side. Postoperatively, time for first request for rescue analgesia and number of women requesting analgesia in 6 h,8 h, 10 h, 12 h and 24 h were noted. Pain score was measured with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at rest and on first 24 h. Patient comfort and satisfaction with analgesia was evaluated at the end of 24 h. Statistical analysis used:The data were analyzed with Students t‑test. Results:The duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group I than group II. The VAS score in patients who received Inj. Ropivacaine was significantly lower than who received inj. Levobupivacaine. Patient and surgeon satisfaction score were significantly higher in Ropicavaine than levobupivacaine. Conclusions:0.25% Ropivacaine provided longer duration of analgesia compared to 0.25% Levobupivacaine in TAP Block for postoperative analgesia after lower segment cesarean section.