Nouveaux anesthésiques locaux pour la rachianesthésie ambulatoire (podcast)

Spinal anesthesia can be used for short ambulatory surgical procedures. Two short acting local anesthetics will be available in France: preservative-free 2-chloroprocaine and prilocaine. The onset of sensory and motor block is rapid with both agents: extension at T10 level is achieved within approximately 15 minutes with prilocaine and 10 minutes with chloroprocaine 50 mg. The duration of anesthesia varies from 120 minutes with 50 mg of chloroprocaine to 120-180 minutes with 100 mg of prilocaïne compared to 180-240 min with 7.5 to 10 mg of bupivacaine. Eligibility for home discharge is also rapid. This article overviews the use of these two local anesthetic solutions, hyperbaric prilocaine, and isobaric chloroprocaine for spinal anesthesia in ambulatory surgery making easier the choice of spinal anaesthesia in this setting, according to surgical requirements and physicians' practice and preferences.