Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41049930›Full record

ReviewCureus2025

A Systematic Review of the Effective Dose of Intrathecal Ropivacaine for Cesarean Section.

Foteini Vakiarou, Agathi Karakosta, Panagis M Lykoudis, Paraskevi Matsota

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Foteini Vakiarou2nd Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Attikon, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Agathi KarakostaDepartment of Anesthesiology and Postoperative Intensive Care, University Hospital of Ioannina, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC.
Panagis M Lykoudis4th Department of Surgery, University Hospital Attikon, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.
Paraskevi Matsota2nd Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Attikon, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GRC.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ropivacaine is a frequently used agent in neuraxial anesthesia for cesarean section (C-section). The optimal dose has not been determined yet, and reported doses vary significantly. Higher doses are associated with higher success of anesthesia but also higher rates of adverse effects, such as hypotension. This study aimed to critically appraise current literature in order to determine the optimal dose of ropivacaine, as well as to highlight gaps in current knowledge. Systematic review of comparative studies, without an attempt at meta-analysis due to expected heterogeneity in examined arms. Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science were accessed to look for pertinent studies written in English, regardless of time of publication. Included studies compared groups with at least two different doses of ropivacaine for neuraxial anesthesia for C-section in adults. Ten randomized control trials fulfilled eligibility criteria and included a total of 756 patients. Examined doses varied significantly, with 4 mg being the lowest and 25 mg being the highest. The success rate of neuraxial anesthesia ranged from 8.3% to 100%, with this extensive variance being attributed to significant heterogeneity in doses, the definition of success, and methods of measuring it. The effective dose for 50% of patients (ED50) ranged from 6.1 mg to 16.7 mg, while the effective dose for 95% of patients (ED95) ranged from 11.4 mg to 26.8 mg. Quality assessment of studies revealed no significant bias. Current literature on the optimal dose of ropivacaine consists of average and high-quality studies. Those ranked as best describe an ED50 of 8 to 10 mg and an ED95 of 12 to 15 mg. However, the large heterogeneity of tested doses and measures needs to be highlighted, as well as the lack of representation of patients at the upper normal of height.

Indexed as

cesarean section (cs)intrathecalintrathecal ropivacaineneuraxial anesthesiaropivacainesubarachnoidsubarachnoid spacesubdural

Identifiers

PMID41049930
PMCPMC12490712

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.