Effect of baricity of low dose diluted bupivacaine with fentanyl on the duration and quality of spinal block in transurethral prostatectomy

Purpose: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we investigated whether density of low dose diluted bupivacaine with fentanyl effects the duration and quality of the spinal block for transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients requiring elective TURP were randomly allocated into two groups. Group H (n=30) received fentanyl 20 mcg+hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% (1.5 ml)+ saline 1.1 ml. Group I (n=30) received fentanyl 20 mcg+ plain bupivacaine 0.5% (1.5 ml)+ saline 1.1 ml in total, bupivacaine 0.25% (3 ml) intrathecally. Onset, duration of the sensory block, the degree of motor block, perioperative anesthesia quality, side-effects, analgesic-free period were assessed. Results: The median peak level of the sensory block was significantly higher in Group H than in Group I. The time to the first analgesic request was longer in Group H). There were no differences between the groups for degree of the motor block, quality of anaesthesia, or adverse effects. Conclusion: Low-dose diluted hyperbaric bupivacaine with fentanyl provides adequate anaesthesia, postoperative analgesia without haemodynamic instability or prolonging the recovery time for TURP in elderly patients.