Median Effective Local Anesthetic Doses of Plain Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine for Spinal Anesthesia Administered Via a Spinal Catheter for Brachytherapy of the Lower Abdomen

Bupivacaine and ropivacaine are appropriate for continuous spinal anesthesia for interstitial radiation therapy procedures of the lower abdomen. In the dose-ranges investigated, intrathecal ropivacaine is approximately half as potent as bupivacaine.