Effects of mepivacaine on the microcirculation of the rat skeletal muscle

Abstract

It has been established beyond any doubt that local anaesthetics induce necrosis in the skeletal muscle. In the case of certain anesthetics, like Mepivacain (Scandicain) the origin of this is nuclear and, although suggestion have been made regarding a posible direct action on the muscle fibre, the histology is also compatible with an ischemic necrosis; in these studies, changes were also observed in nerve vessel structures. In order to bring new information to bear on the mechanisms involved in ischemia, Grim et al. (1983) studied the effects of various anaesthetics on the microcirculation of the skeletal muscle, confirming that a considerable reduction in capillary numbers took place in the degenerated area. This paper aims to study the effects of mpivacain on the capillaries of the skeletal muscle, in order to identify the role of this anaesthetic in the necrosis of muscle fibers. For this reason, the study was carried aout in areas containing degenerated muscle fibres.