COMPARISON OF INTRATHECAL BUPRENORPHINE VERSUS CLONIDINE AS AN ADJUVANT TO 0.5% HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE IN LOWER ABDOMINAL SURGERIES

Abstract

Introduction: Various adjuvants have been added to bupivacaine to shorten the onset of block and prolong the duration of block. Present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of intrathecal clonidine or buprenorphine with bupivacaine in lower abdominal surgeries.
 Methods: 90 ASA I and II patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries were randomly allocated into three groups(n=30). Group A received 3ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 1ml normal saline, Group B received 3ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 60 mcg buprenorphine(1:5 dilution) and Group C received 3ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 30mcg clonidine(1:5 dilution) respectively (Total volume 4ml). Onset time and duration of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia, hemodynamics, VAS score, sedation score and side effect were compared.
 Results: The duration of analgesia was significantly longest in Group C (354.50±38.48min), followed by Group B (277.10±25.47min) and Group A(131.50±20.15min) (p<0.001)
 Conclusion: Clonidine(30mcg) and buprenorphine(60mcg) when used as adjuvants to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally produces significantly longer duration and better quality of postoperative analgesia than bupivacaine alone. On comparing the two drugs, Clonidine appears to be superior in terms of postoperative analgesia.
 Keywords: clonidine, buprenorphine, intrathecal, postoperative analgesia.