A double-blind trial of bupivacaine (Marcain) and etidocaine (Duranest) in extradural block for surgical induction of labour.

A double-blind randomized trial was conducted to compare etidocaine, the new local anaesthetic agent, with bupivacaine. One hundred patients were each given a single dose of one of the drugs during the surgical induction of labour. The results showed that etidocaine had a quicker onset of action than bupivacaine, but that its duration of action was shorter, and that it produced a greater degree of muscle weakness. No differences were noted in the side effects of the two drugs.