Patil SS, et al. - Researchers herein compared the postoperative analgesia provided by continuous epidural infusion of two amide local anesthetics, ropivacaine and bupivacaine with fentanyl in patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery. Equal safety of both ropivacaine and bupivacaine in the concentration of 0.125% with fentanyl 1 ug/ml was demonstrated, with minimal motor block. Both were shown to be effective in providing postoperative analgesia.