A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ROPIVACAINE AND ROPIVACAINE WITH DEXMEDETOMIDINE AS POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA FOR LOWER ABDOMINAL SURGERIES UNDER ULTRASOUND-GUIDED TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE BLOCK

Abstract

BACKGROUND Ultrasound-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane block for providing postoperative analgesia for lower abdominal surgeries are performed commonly nowadays. Injection of alpha-2 adrenergic agonist drugs have been suggested for improving the quality of nerve block. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of Ropivacaine and Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine in providing postoperative analgesia for lower abdominal surgeries under ultrasound-guided TAP block. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was done in sixty patients of age group 18 - 60 years under ASA I and II randomly allotted into two groups of thirty each undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. Group A received only Ropivacaine, while Group B received Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine. RESULTS Patients in Group B had extended duration of analgesia with minimal sedation. CONCLUSION The study showed that the addition of Dexmedetomidine to Ropivacaine in TAP block extended the duration of analgesia with minimal sedation without significant changes in haemodynamic parameters or complications.