Spinal Anaesthesia With Chloroprocaine HCl 1% for Elective Lower Limb Procedures of Short Duration.

Spinal Anaesthesia With Chloroprocaine HCl 1% for Elective Lower Limb Procedures of Short Duration: a Prospective, Randomised, Observer-blind Study in Adult Patients

This study evaluate the effect of 3 doses of Chloroprocaine HCl 1% (30, 40 and 50 mg) for spinal anaesthesia in adult patients undergoing short duration elective surgery of the lower limb. Patients undergoing elective short-duration lower limb surgery will be randomised into 3 treatment groups (15 patients per group) to receive one of the 3 single doses of Chloroprocaine HCl 1%, i.e. either D1, D2 or D3, via intrathecal injection.

To evaluate the efficacy of the three Chloroprocaine HCl 1% doses (i.e. D1, D2 and D3) in terms of time to complete regression of spinal block (i.e. end of anaesthesia)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Sex, age and surgery: male/female patients, 18-65 years old, scheduled for short duration (less than 40 min) lower limb surgery requiring ≥ T12 metameric level of sensory block
2. Body Mass Index (BMI): 18 - 32 kg/m2 inclusive
3. ASA physical status: I-II
4. Informed consent: signed written informed consent before inclusion in the study 5. Full comprehension: ability to comprehend the full nature and purpose of the study, including possible risks and side effects; ability to co-operate with the investigator and to comply with the requirements of the entire study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Physical findings: clinically significant abnormal physical findings which could interfere with the objectives of the study. Contraindications to spinal anaesthesia. History of neuromuscular diseases to the lower extremities
2. ASA physical status: III-V
3. Further anaesthesia: patients expected to require further anaesthesia
4. Allergy: ascertained or presumptive hypersensitivity to the active principle and/or formulations ingredients; ascertained or presumptive hypersensitivity to the ester type and major anaesthetics
5. Diseases: significant history of renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, skin, haematological, endocrine or neurological diseases that may interfere with the aim of the study; ascertained psychiatric and neurological diseases, sepsis, blood coagulation disorders, severe cardiopulmonary disease, thyroid disease, diabetes or other neuropathies.
6. Investigative drug studies: participation in the evaluation of any investigational product for 3 months before this study, calculated from the first day of the month following the last visit of the previous study
7. Drug, alcohol: history of drug or alcohol abuse
8. Blood donation: blood donations in the 3 months before this study
9. Pregnancy and lactation: missing or positive pregnancy test at screening, pregnant or lactating women
10. Chronic pain syndromes: patients with chronic pain syndromes (taking opioids, antidepressants, anticonvulsant agents or chronic analgesic therapy) 11. Medications: medication known to interfere with the extent of spinal blocks for 2 weeks before the start of the study. Hormonal contraceptives for females are allowed.