The effect of adding ketamine to bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia in day-case surgery

Objectives In this paper, we evaluate the effect of adding ketamine to spinal anesthesia in day-case surgery with regard to the time of onset of block, the duration of the block, hemodynamic variables, postoperative time to full motor power, time to walking, and side effects. Materials and methods Sixty patients scheduled for day-case surgeries under spinal anesthesia were studied in a prospective double-blinded randomized manner. Patients were allocated to receive either 3 ml hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) (group I) or 2 ml hyperbaric bupivacaine (0.5%) combined with ½ ml ketamine (25 mg) + ½ ml normal saline (group II). Results The onset time and the duration of the block were shorter in group II than in group I. The postoperative time to walking, the time to full motor power recovery, and the duration of spinal analgesia were shorter in group II. There were no signifi cant differences in hemodynamic variables or side effects. Conclusion Ketamine added to hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia provides a shorter time of onset of block, a shorter duration of the block, and a shorter time to full motor power and to walking postoperatively in day-case surgery.