Systemic Toxicity of Levobupivacaine, Bupivacaine, and Ropivacaine during Continuous Intravenous Infusion to Nonpregnant and Pregnant Ewes

Abstract

Pregnancy increases the risk of convulsions but not of more advanced manifestations of local anesthetic toxicity. The risk of toxicity is greatest with bupivacaine and least with ropivacaine. However, in actual clinical practice, the risk of systemic toxicity may also be affected by the relative potency and effectiveness of these drugs.