Bupivacaine serum concentrations during chronic intrathecal infusion for pain management: an observational single-center study

This study aimed to quantify serum concentrations of bupivacaine during chronic intrathecal infusion for cancer pain management and assess factors influencing systemic absorption. The findings indicate that while the mean serum concentration of bupivacaine was significantly below the toxicity threshold, it was positively correlated with the daily dose and influenced by body mass index and infusion flow rates. Overall, the research highlights the safety of bupivacaine use in this context, despite limited data on its systemic effects.