Ropivacaine

Ropivacaine is a long-acting amide local anaesthetic agent. Ropivacaine is a potent and reversible blocker of sodium channels in nerve fibers. It is a pure S(-)enantiomer and less lipophilic than racemic sodium channel blockers, such as bupivacaine and is less likely to penetrate large myelinated motor fibres, resulting in a relatively reduced motor blockade. Thus, ropivacaine has a greater degree of motor sensory differentiation, which could be useful when motor blockade is undesirable. The reduced lipophilicity is also associated with decreased potential for central nervous system toxicity and cardiotoxicity.