Vives R, et al. - In this randomized, controlled, single blind study, researchers compared regional cerebral O₂ saturation, cognitive status and neurological complications among 58 patients (aged 70 or older) undergoing surgery for hip fracture with spinal anesthesia who were allocated with a 1:1 ratio to receive levobupivacaine (LB) or bupivacaine (B), combined with fentanyl 15 μg, by intrathecal route. The B group displayed a mean percentage of intraoperative time with desaturation of 6.1% and 4.7% in the left and right hemisphere respectively, it was 4.8% in the left hemisphere and 2.4% in the right one in the LB group. Both treatment groups had no statistically significant differences in regional cerebral oxygen saturation or hemodynamic parameters. However, both groups differed in sensory and motor block achieved. Both groups had no differences in cognitive impairment measured by the SPMSQ (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire) but more frequent neurological complications were seen with bupivacaine.