SEVOFLURANE REQUIREMENT TO ATTENUATE STRESS RESPONSE TO PNEUMOPERITONEUM AND POST-OPERATIVE ANALGESIA DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY: INTRATHECAL DEXMEDETOMIDINE VS. FENTANYL. A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED STUDY

Abstract

Background and aims: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered as the gold standard for cholelithiasis with better preservation of surgical anatomy, early recovery and post-operative analgesia but haemodynamic instability due to pneumo-peritoneum is a concern. This study was contemplated to assess the effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine or fentanyl on end-tidal inhalation agent concentration requirement as an indirect measure of haemodynamic stress response during the creation of pneumo-peritoneum and on post-operative analgesia. Methods: This prospective, randomized, comparative study was conducted in 75 ASA I and II patients with three groups of 25 each. The patients in group-1 received 10µg of intrathecal dexmedetomidine, group-2 50µg fentanyl and group-3 equal volume of normal saline before administration of general anesthesia. We assessed the vital parameters and end-tidal concentration of sevourane requirement before and 10minutes after creation and immediately after deation of pneumo-peritoneum. Post-operative pain scores were measured using Visual analogue scale(VAS) for 24hrs and rescue analgesia was 0.5µg/kg fentanyl in the immediate post-operative period and paracetamol 15mg/kg if the score was ≥4 in the post-operative period. Results: Demographic data were comparable in all the groups. Systolic blood pressure before onset of pneumo-peritoneum(P=0.03),endtidal inhalation agent concentration to maintain stable haemodynamics post-pneumoperitoneum were signicantly low(P=0.036) in group-1 as compared to group-3. Immediate bolus dose requirement of fentanyl after extubationwas signicantly low, and the duration of post-operative analgesia was prolonged(P=0.009) in group-1.Conclusion: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine may be a safe and effective method in alleviating haemodynamic stress response during pneumo-peritoneum and provides adequate post-operative analgesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.