Bupivacaine as a Local Anesthetic for Hernia Repair

Bupivacaine hydrochloride is a safe, useful local anesthetic agent for repair of groin hernias. Prolonged anesthesia, lasting six hours or longer, was observed In 94 of WO patients. No toxic effects involving the central nervous system were observed using a 0.25% solution with epinephrine. Hypotension and cardiac arrhythmia occurred in one patient. Wound complications, such as hematomas and ecchymosis, were more common with Bupivacaine than when Chlorprocaine was used. However, painstaking hemostasis, which required ligation of even the tiniest blood vessels, reduced the wound complications. As experience is gained in the use of Bupivacaine, complications will be reduced to a minimum