“A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF EFFECT OF INTRA ARTICULAR FENTANYL VERSUS DEXMEDETOMIDINE AS ADJUVANT TO ROPIVACAINE ON POST OPERATIVE PAIN IN KNEE ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERIES”

Abstract

Background: Knee arthroscopy involves good repair of knee ligaments and menisci with minimal injuries but with variable degree of post operative pain. This pain can be minimal in some but can be very distressing in others. This study aims at evaluating effect of intra articular fentanyl versus dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to ropivacaine on post operative pain in knee arthroscopic surgeries. Ninety patients of ASA Class I Materials and Methods: /II, aged 20–60 years posted for arthroscopic knee surgery were randomly divided into Group R (control group),Group RF(fentanyl) and Group RD (dexmedetomidine) with 30 patients in each group. Anaesthetic technique used was spinal anaesthesia in all patients. Group I patients received Ropivacaine 0.75% 22 ml , group II received Ropivacaine 0.75% 20 ml +Fentanyl 1mcg/kg and Group III received 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine diluted to 20 ml Ropivacaine 0.75% via intra-articular route at end of procedure. VAS score for 24 h, time to rst rescue analgesia and total dose of analgesic required in each group was evaluated. Results: VAS scores were signicantly lower in Group III, time to rst analgesic requirement was highest in group III (412.2±34.9mins) and lowest in group I (280.4±18.8mins), P value 0.002. Total dose of analgesic used in Group III (166.667±47.946 mg) patients was signicantly lesser compared to patients in Group I (273.33±44.978 mg) and group II (183.33±46.113 mg), P value 0.0226. Intra-articular dexmedetomidine as adjuvant t Conclusion: o 0.75% ropivacaine is effective in providing prolonged postoperative analgesia and decreases total analgesic requirements without any signicant side effects after arthroscopic knee procedures.