Purpose: Chloroprocaine should be an ideal agent for intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) because of its rapid onset and ester hydrolysis. Raising the pH of local anesthetics may increase the speed of onset and the intensity of nerve blocks. We compared plain and alkalinized 2-chloroprocaine 0.5% with lidocaine for IVRA.Methods: In two seporate double-blind studies, 78 patients scheduled for daycare hand surgery were randomized to receive 40 mL plain 2-chloroprocaine 0.5%, alkalinized 2-chloroprocaine 0.5% or lidocaine 0.5% for IVP~. Time to sensory and motor block, need for supplemental analgesia, and side effects were compared. Kesults: There was no difference in time to sensory or motor block in either group. Patients who received plain chloroprocaine required more supplemental opioid and had a higher incidence of metallic taste and of hives than patients who received lidocaine (P < 0.05). Comparing alkalinized chloroprocaine with lidocaine, there was no difference found with respect to opioid supplementation, CNS side effects, or incidence of hives. Conclusion: In conclusion, alkalinized chloroprocaine was found to be an effective agent for IVRA but no benefit over lidocaine was detected. Plain chloroprocaine for IVRA produced more minor side effects than lidocaine.Objectif: La chloroprocaTne est un agent ideal pour ranesth&ie r~gionale intraveineuse (ARIV) &ant donn6 sa rapidit~ d'action et I'hydrolyse des esters. En ~levant le pH des anesth&iques Iocaux, on peut acc~l&er le d~but de I'action et augmenter I'intensit~ des blocages nerveux. Nous avons compar~ la 2-chloroproca'fne simple 0,5 % et alcalinis~e avec la lidoca'fne pour une ARIV.M&hode : II y a eu deux ~tudes s~por4.es, ~ double insu, aupr& de 78 patients dont I'op&ation d'une main avait
