A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EPIDURAL BUPIVACAINE WITH CLONIDINE AND EPIDURAL BUPIVACAINE WITH MAGNESIUM SULPHATE FOR PERIOPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LOWER LIMB SURGERY

Abstract

Background: Epidural anaesthesia is a safe and inexpensive technique with advantage of providing surgical anaesthesia and prolonged postoperative analgesia. Use of adjuvant drugs with local anaesthetics increases its potency and decreases its dose requirement. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the perioperative analgesia effect of adjuvant clonidine with adjuvant magnesium sulphate when used in epidural anaesthesia with bupivacaine hydrochloride. Materials and Methods: A randomized, double blind, controlled study was conducted for 12 months in a tertiary care hospital of India. A total (n=60) patient aged 20-60 years, weight 50-75 kgs of either sex with ASA I and ASA II waiting for lower limb surgery were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group BC (n=30) received epidural bupivacaine (0.5%) with clonidine (75 mcg) and Group BM (n=30) received epidural bupivacaine (0.5%) with magnesium sulphate (50 mg). Similar anaesthesia technique was performed for both the groups. Onset of anaesthesia, duration of anaesthesia and analgesia, haemodynamic and respiratory parameters were recorded at various time interval. Result: Onset of anaesthesia was faster and statistically signicant (p<0.0001) in Group BM but duration of anaesthesia and analgesia were longer and statistically signicant (p<0.0001) in Group BC. There was comparable demographic, haemodynamic and respiratory parameters in both the groups. Conclusion: Epidural bupivacaine with clonidine produces prolonged analgesia in comparison to epidural bupivacaine with magnesium sulphate