Bupivacaine Hydrochloride

Chen H, et al. investigated whether bupivacaine, a local anesthetic associated with cardiotoxicity, inhibits small-conductance calcium-activated potassium type 2 (SK2) channels, which are expressed in cardiac tissue and contribute to physiological function. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for bupivacaine was 16.5 μM, indicating it is a more potent inhibitor than ropivacaine (46.5 μM) or lidocaine (77.8 μM). The extent of inhibition was also dependent on intracellular calcium concentrations.

Fig. 1 Inhibitory effect of bupivacaine on SK2 currents was reversible. (Chen H, et al., 2017)

Pedoto A, et al. compared the analgesic efficacy of liposomal bupivacaine versus standard bupivacaine hydrochloride for intercostal nerve blockade in 60 patients undergoing minimally invasive thoracic surgery lobectomy. All patients received multimodal analgesia including intravenous patient-controlled analgesia postoperatively. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups in perioperative opioid consumption, pain scores at any time point, Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale scores, or lengths of post-anesthesia care unit and hospital stay.

Fig. 2 Postoperative total morphine equivalents (intravenous plus oral) use at 12-h intervals for 72 h. B-HCl, bupivacaine hydrochloride; Lipo-B, liposomal bupivacaine. (Pedoto A, et al, 2021)