A Comparison of the Electrocardiographic Cardiotoxic Effects of Racemic Bupivacaine, Levobupivacaine, and Ropivacaine in Anesthetized Swine

Abstract

Animal experiments have shown levobupivacaine and ropivacaine to be less cardiotoxic than racemic bupivacaine. This in vivo study, using a validated swine model, compared the relative direct cardiotoxicities of these three local anesthetics. The lethal dose did not differ between levobupivacaine and ropivacaine, but was lowest for racemic bupivacaine.