HBOT Conversations:

Over the past 15 years, cesarean delivery is most commonly performed under spinal anesthesia
using hyperbaric bupivacaine which provides an adequate sensory and motor block. Despite
effective surgical anesthesia, bupivacaine is associated with long duration motor block and
dose-dependent maternal hypotension potentially harmful for the fetus. Prilocaine with its
new 2% hyperbaric formulation (HP), developed recently, showed rapid onset of action and
faster regression of motor block compared to other local anesthetics without noteworthy
side-effects when used intrathecally. The aim of this randomized, multicenter, powered
clinical trial is to investigate whether HP may be an efficient alternative to hyperbaric
bupivacaine for scheduled caesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia, with more rapid
rehabilitation and less adverse effects. Our hypothesis is that hyperbaric prilocaine offers
shorter motor block and more rapid rehabilitation than bupivacaine.