Bupivacaine
Pronunciation: /bjuːˈpɪvəkeɪn/
Long-acting local anesthetic commonly used in obstetric neuraxial anesthesia, known for its duration and potential cardiac toxicity.
Full Definition
Bupivacaine is an amide local anesthetic widely used in obstetric anesthesia for epidural and spinal blocks due to its long duration of action and excellent sensory blockade with minimal motor block at low concentrations. It provides effective labor analgesia and surgical anesthesia for cesarean delivery. However, bupivacaine has significant cardiotoxicity potential, particularly the racemic formulation, leading to the development of levobupivacaine and ropivacaine as safer alternatives. The drug's high protein binding and lipophilicity contribute to its prolonged duration but also to its toxicity profile.
Usage
Usage note: Often confused with levobupivacaine and ropivacaine; specify formulation when documenting to avoid medication errors.
In Context
- "Epidural analgesia was maintained with 0.125% bupivacaine and fentanyl infusion throughout labor." — Labor analgesia management note
- "The anesthesiologist chose levobupivacaine over racemic bupivacaine to reduce cardiac toxicity risk." — Anesthetic drug selection rationale