Ropivacaine: A Review on the Pharmacological Features, Therapeutic Efficacy and Side-effects When used for Caudal Epidural Analgesia

Abstract

Inadequate postoperative pain treatment can lead to clinical and psychological changes, as well as increased morbidity, mortality, and financial burden, all of which can influence quality of life. A review of the pharmacological characteristics, therapeutic efficacy in delivering postoperative analgesia, and side-effects of ropivacaine is presented in this article. Motor blockade is an unwanted effect during the postoperative period. The fear of side-effects and haemodynamic instability caused by the most of the analgesic drugs are the challenges faced in providing effective postoperative analgesia in children. Ropivacaine has lesser cardiotoxic effects, lesser motor blockade and minimal side-effects as compared to bupivacaine. These properties make it a promising drug for paediatric caudal analgesia and forms a cost-effective method by decreasing the requirement of systemic analgesics, morbidity and improving the life quality postoperatively.

Keywords

• haemodynamic instability
• motor blockade
• postoperative pain