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OBJECTIVE	Initiation of epidural anesthesia with long-lasting local anesthetics consumes a significant amount of time , which could be problematic in busy obstetric anesthesia suites .
OBJECTIVE	We have hypothesized that a combination of articaine and ropivacaine provides faster onset and even an early recovery of sensory-motor block characteristics .
METHODS	Sixty term parturients scheduled to have elective cesarean section were randomly allocated into three groups to receive either 20 mL 2 % articaine ( Group A ) , 10 mL 2 % articaine + 10 mL 0.75 % ropivacaine ( Group AR ) or 20 mL 0.75 % ropivacaine ( Group R ) via lumbar epidural catheter .
METHODS	The onset time of sensory block to T10 , T6 and maximum sensory block level , time to two segments regression from maximum sensory block level , onset time and duration of motor block were all recorded .
METHODS	Intraoperative and postoperative additional analgesic requirements were also recorded .
RESULTS	Demographic data were similar .
RESULTS	The onset times of sensorial block to T10 and T6 were significantly shorter in Groups A and AR in comparison with Group R ( p < 0.05 ) .
RESULTS	The onset times of motor block were similar in all groups , but a more intense motor block was observed in Group R ( p < 0.05 ) .
RESULTS	Two segments regression time and motor block durations were significantly shorter in Groups A and AR in comparison with Group R ( p < 0.05 ) .
RESULTS	Intraoperative supplementary analgesic requirements were higher in Group A than in the other two groups ( p < 0.05 ) .
CONCLUSIONS	A combination of 2 % articaine and 0.75 % ropivacaine for epidural anesthesia in a cesarean section should be preferred over epidural 0.75 % ropivacaine alone .

