We compared the effects of 0.125% ropivacaine with 0.125% bupivacaine in laboring patients using patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). Fifty-one ASA physical status I or II term parturients with functioning epidural catheters were randomized to receive ropivacaine or bupivacaine using a prospective, double-blind design. Basal infusions (6 mL/h) were supplemented with patient-controlled boluses (5 mL) every 10 min as required. For inadequate analgesia, patients were administered 10-mL boluses of study solution until comfortable. There were no differences in verbal pain scores, amount of local anesthetics used, sensory levels, motor blockade, labor duration, mode of delivery, side effects, or patient satisfaction between the two local anesthetics. We conclude that 0.125% ropivacaine and bupivacaine are clinically indistinguishable and are both highly effective for labor analgesia using PCEA.
Implications: This study compared labor analgesia from 0.125% ropivacaine and 0.125% bupivacaine using patient-controlled epidural analgesia. We found no significant differences in local anesthetic use, analgesic characteristics, or side effects between 0.125% ropivacaine and 0.125% bupivacaine. We conclude that these two drugs are clinically indistinguishable at this concentration.