Spinal Anesthesia Using Mepivacaine Allows Earlier Ambulation

Spinal anesthesia with mepivacaine affords earlier ambulation than either 0.5% isobaric or 0.75% hyperbaric bupivacaine in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), according to a recent study. Nevertheless, the investigation also found that earlier ambulation did not come without a cost: Patients receiving mepivacaine reported increased pain and greater opioid consumption in the early postoperative period.