To determine the role of clonidine as an adjuvant to intrathecal bupivacaine in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery

Abstract

Background: Clonidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist with various actions, one of which enhances the effectiveness of local anaesthetics. For patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery, we examined the effect of adding intrathecal clonidine to hyperbaric bupivacaine on postoperative pain relief and side effects, if any. Aim: To assess the efficacy of intrathecal clonidine along with hyperbaric Bupivacaine in patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. Method: It was a retrospective study carried out under spinal anaesthesia on 80 patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery. The research population was assigned randomly to two groups; group B-received 15 mg bupivacaine+ 0.4mi Normal Saline and group C received 15 mg bupivacaine + 60mcg clonidine. Results: Addition of 60mcgs of intrathecal clonidine to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine significantly prolonged the duration of motor & sensory blockade along with the duration of effective postoperative analgesia. The demand for rescue analgesic was earlier in group B as compared to group C. Both groups were matched for the side-effects like hypotension, bradycardia, nausea, vomiting, and shivering.