Randomized Double-Blind Study of the Effect of Injectate Temperature on Intrathecal Bupivacaine Dose Requirement in Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery

Increasing the temperature of intrathecal local anesthetics has been shown to increase the speed of onset and block height of spinal anesthesia. However, how this influences dose requirement has not been fully quantified. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the effective dose for anesthesia for cesarean delivery in 50% of patients (ED50) of intrathecal bupivacaine given at temperatures of 37 °C (body temperature) or 24 °C (room temperature).