Comparison between Nalbuphine and Ketamine as an adjuvant to Heavy Bupivacaine on Post Dural Puncture Headache

Abstract

Background Incidence of post dural puncture headache (PDPH) is relatively high, and many methods have been tried to prevent or treat it, but results are not satisfactory. Both Nalbuphine and Ketamine have analgesic effects, and have been used intrathecally with local anesthetics, but their effects on PDPH were not studied. Objective To study the incidence and severity of PDPH when nalbuphine or ketamine was added as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes were the effects of adding nalbuphine or ketamine as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine on motor and sensory effects, duration of analgesia, hemodynamics and side effects of both of them. Patients and Methods This prospective double-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted on 320 patients, aged 21-60 years of both sexes, ASA physical status I and II, and allocated for lower abdominal, pelvic, or lower limb surgeries under spinal anesthesia, after approval from ethical committee (Assurance No. FWA 000017585) of Faculty of Medicine, Ain, Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. Contact with 17 patients was lost. So, 303 patients completed the study. Patients were divided into 3 equal groups (101 each) according to drugs injected intrayhecally. Group (N): 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 0.5 mg nalbuphine hydrochloride diluted in 0.5 ml normal saline. Group (K): 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 25 mg ketamine hydrochloride diluted in 0.5 ml normal saline. Group (C): 3 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 0.5 ml normal saline. Results Incidence of PDPH was statistically significantly less in group N in comparison to Groups K and C, in the first day. But, no statistically significant difference was found between the three groups at 2nd and 3rd days. There was no statistically significant difference between groups according to severity of PDPH by visual analog score (VAS). Group N has the most rapid onset and long duration of sensory block in comparison with groups K and C. There was no statistically significant difference between groups according to onset and duration of motor block and hemodynamic changes. Conclusion Adding nalbuphine, and not ketamine, with hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia decreased incidence of post dural puncture headache, and prolonged the duration of sensory block. Both groups provided adequate anesthesia and analgesia with good hemodynamic stability.