ABSTRACT

We can state that combination of levobupivacaine with different morphine doses of 50 or 100 μg results in increased perioperative anaesthesia and analgesia quality without any significant post-anaesthesia complication during elective unilateral inguinal hernia repair.

Mean sensory block level of patients in Group L at 20th minute was significantly lower than those in Group LM50 and Group LM100 (p<0.05). The mean time required to achieve maximum motor block were significantly shorter in Group LM50 and Group LM100 than that in Group L (p=0.008 and p=0.001 respectively). The duration of motor block was significantly longer in Group LM50 and Group LM100 than that in Group L (p=0.020, p=0.019, respectively). The mean time for first postoperative analgesic demand in Group L was significantly shorter than those in Group LM50 and Group LM100 (p=0.001 and p<0.0001 respectively).

Patients were randomly divided into three groups: 12 mg/ 2.5 ml levobupivacaine only (Group L), 12 mg levobupivacaine with 50μg morphine (Group LM50), 12 mg levobupivacaine with 100μg morphine (Group LM100). Then, groups were compared for vital signs, sensorial neural block levels, motor block levels, side effects and drug therapies at the post anaesthesia period. Time of sensory and motor block, first mobilization, urination and discharge were also recorded for all patients.

Spinal anaesthesia offers safe and comfortable surgery in inguinal hernia repair. Local anaesthetic and opioid combinations are gaining popularity in intrathecal anaesthesia due to many advantages both in terms of providing patient and surgical satisfaction in addition to acceptable complication rates. In this study we aimed to compare different morphine doses added to levobupivacaine for intratechal anesthesia in unilateral inguinal hernia repair.