English

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Central neuraxial blocks with local anaesthetics are popular techniques of anaesthesia which have been extensively used for lower abdominal surgery. Subarachnoid block is a simple technique which requires a small dose of local anaesthetic to provide rapid and reliable surgical anaesthesia and minimal risk of drug toxicity. Duration of spinal anaesthesia may be prolonged by addition of opioids, clonidine, neostigmine, or vasoconstrictor agents to the local anesthetic drug for better post-op pain relief. Intrathecal addition of a low dose of α2-agonist like clonidine or dexmedetomidine results in significant prolongation of the duration of the sensory and motor blockade induced by hyperbaric bupivacaine. This study is designed to investigate the effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine on the duration of sensory and motor blockade induced by intrathecal administration of bupivacaine, and its associated adverse events. AIMS AND OBJEVCTIVES: To determine effect of intravenous Dexmedetomidine on the duration of analgesia with spinal Bupivacaine for adult patients undergoing herniorrhaphy and to assess the incidence of intra operative side effects, if any. STUDY SETTING: This study was done under the department of Anaesthesiology, Azeezia Medical College from March 2013 to October 2013. STUDY DESIGN: A double blind prospective randomized control study was done.50 adults aged 20 to 60 years scheduled for herniorrhaphies were allocated into two study groups, named A and B using computer generated randomization. INTERPRETATIONS AND CONCLUSION: The duration of analgesia of subarachnoid block with heavy 0.5% bupivacaine with intravenous infusion of saline and dexmedetomidine were compared. Post-operative pain was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale. Duration of analgesia is the time taken from the administration of the drug to the time when the patient complains of pain of > 50 in Visual Analogue Scale. The duration of analgesia was longest in patients received intravenous dexmedetomidine along with spinal bupivacaine. There were no significant differences between the groups for the time of onset of sensory blockade and time to achieve maximum sensory blockade. Incidence of hypotension and bradycardia were not clinically and statistically significant in both groups. Incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was also similar in both the groups. Side effect like respiratory depression not observed in either group. In conclusion, Intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine added to subarachnoid block with bupivacaine offered prolonged analgesia in adult patients undergoing herniorrhaphies, without increasing the