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Effects of adjunct intrathecal magnesium sulfate to bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia: a randomized, double-blind trial in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of additional magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) 100 mg to intrathecal (IT) isobaric 0.5% bupivacaine 3 ml on spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery.

Methods

In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 79 American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I or II adult patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgery were recruited. The patients were randomly allocated to receive 100 mg MgSO4 5% (0.2 ml) plus 15 mg of bupivacaine 0.5% (MgSO4 group) or 15 mg bupivacaine 0.5% combined with 0.2 ml normal saline (control group) intrathecally. Response to treatment was assessed as onset and duration of sensory block, the highest level of sensory block, time to complete motor block recovery, duration of spinal anesthesia, and postoperative analgesic requirement.

Results

The onset of the sensory block was slower in the MgSO4 group than in the control group (13.3 vs. 11.6 min, P = 0.04), and the duration of the sensory blockade was significantly longer in the MgSO4 group than the control group (106.5 vs. 85.5 min, P = 0.001). Total analgesic requirements for 24 h following surgery were lower in the MgSO4 group than in the control group (96.8 vs. 138.5 mg, P = 0.001). Mean duration of spinal anesthesia was not significantly different between two groups (178.0 vs. 167.4 min, P = 0.23).

Conclusion

In patients undergoing lower extremity surgery with spinal anesthesia, the addition of 100 mg IT MgSO4 to 15 mg bupivacaine without opioid supplement, prolonged the duration of the sensory block, decreased postoperative analgesic consumption, and significantly prolonged the onset of spinal anesthesia.

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Acknowledgments

All authors vouch for the veracity and completeness of the reported data, and all authors contributed to various aspects of the trial design, data gathering and analysis, and preparation of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Mohsen Janghorbani.

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Khalili, G., Janghorbani, M., Sajedi, P. et al. Effects of adjunct intrathecal magnesium sulfate to bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia: a randomized, double-blind trial in patients undergoing lower extremity surgery. J Anesth 25, 892–897 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-011-1227-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00540-011-1227-z

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