Ropivacaine, a new local anaesthetic agent, has been demonstrated to have less potential than bupivacaine for central nervous system toxicity on the basis of human and animal studies. We report a case of a convulsion secondary to presumed inadvertent intravascular injection of 20 mg of ropivacaine in a 44 kg patient during an epidural for chronic pain. There were minimal signs of cardiovascular toxicity.
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NancarrowC., RuttenA.J., RuncimanW.B.Myocardial and cerebral drug concentrations and the mechanisms of death after fatal intravenous doses of lidocaine, bupivacaine, and ropivacaine in the sheep.Anesth Analg1989; 69: 276–283.
7.
HickeyR., HoffmanJ., RamamurthyS.A comparison of ropivacaine 0.5% and bupivacaine 0.5% for brachial plexus block.Anesthesiology1991; 74: 639–642.
8.
LeeA., FaganD., LamontM., TuckerG.T., HalldinM., ScottD.B.Disposition kinetics of ropivacaine in humans.Anesth Analg1989; 69: 736–738.
9.
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