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Context:Spinal anesthesia is preferred choice of anesthesia in lower abdominal surgeries since long time. However problem with this is limited duration of action, so for long duration surgeries alternative are required. Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2-adrenergic agonist has property to potentiate the action of local anesthetic used in spinal anesthesia. Fentanyl is an opioid and it has also the same property.Aims:To compare the efficacy, analgesic effects, and side-effects of dexmedetomidine and fentanyl as adjuvant to bupivacaine for lower abdominal surgery.Settings and Design:The type of this study was double-blind randomized trial.Subjects and Methods:A total of 80 patients were randomly allocated in two Group D and Group F. Group D were injected injection bupivacaine 0.5% heavy × 3.0 ml + 0.5 ml of preservative free normal saline containing 5 μg dexmedetomidine. Group F were received injection bupivacaine 0.5% heavy × 3.0 ml + 0.5 ml fentanyl equivalent to 25 μg.Statistical Analysis Used:The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 15.0 statistical analysis software.Results:The results show that highest sensitivity level of T6 and T8 was achieved by higher proportion of subjects from Group D when compared to Group F and sensitivity level T7 was achieved by higher proportion of subjects of Group F when compared to Group D. Duration of analgesic properties was significantly higher in Group D when compared to Group F.Conclusion:The findings in the present study suggested that intrathecal adjuvant use of dexmedetomidine as compared to fentanyl provides a longer sensory and motor blockade and also prolongs the postoperative analgesic effect.

Introduction:Subarachnoid block, although being highly efficient with lesser drug doses, often has limitation such as hypotension, continues to be a matter of concern to the anesthetist. The present study was aimed to compare the use of phenylephrine, ephedrine, and mephentermine bolus for maintenance of blood pressure during spinal anesthesia in lower abdominal surgeries.Subjects and Methods:In a randomized, prospective study, 90 adult patients of either sex who developed hypotension during surgery under subarachnoid block were allocated into three groups to receive bolus phenylephrine, ephedrine, and mephentermine. The number of boluses and time taken to recover from hypotension was noted. Occurrence of adverse effects in the perioperative and postoperative period was also noted.Results:Results were analyzed by Student's paired t-test and Chi-square test. The ANOVA test was used to compare the group variances among the study groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Thirty-four hypotensive events (average 1.03 events/patient) took place in mephentermine group. In phenylephrine group, a total of 53 hypotensive events took place. On an average, the group had a total of 1.61 hypotensive events per patient. No hypotensive event took place in ephedrine group after the first bolus of drug (average 1 event/patient). Mean heart rate in phenylephrine group was significantly lower as compared to the other two groups (P < 0.001).Conclusion:Mephentermine and ephedrine were similar in performance, offered a better hypotensive control, and had lower recurring events as compared to phenylephrine.

Background:Epidural anesthesia has been well established as a safe and effective technique not only for perioperative anesthesia but also for postoperative analgesia. Various adjuvants have been added to local anesthetic agent in an effort to prolong this duration.Aims:The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate the anesthesia and analgesic property of ropivacaine to its combination with clonidine for lower limb orthopedic surgery under epidural.Materials and Methods:In a prospective, randomized, double-blind study, eighty adult patients undergoing lower limb surgeries received either 0.75% ropivacaine or 75 μg clonidine with 0.75% ropivacaine through epidural route. Patients were compared for hemodynamic variability, quality of motor and sensory block, intra- and post-operative analgesia, and the side effects associated.Statistical Analysis:Data analysis was done by Student's paired t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann–Whitney test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The time taken for onset of the motor as well as the sensory block was significantly shorter in ropivacaine with clonidine group as compared to ropivacaine alone group. Mean duration of analgesia was significantly higher in patients who received clonidine as an adjunct (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference observed in the incidence of hemodynamic changes or side effects.Conclusion:The study demonstrated that use of clonidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine through epidural route provides a hemodynamically stable, faster, and prolonged epidural block and a longer analgesic effect as compared to ropivacaine alone.

Background: Epidural anesthesia is commonly used for perioperative as well as postoperative analgesia in lower limb surgeries. Adjuvant in spinal anesthesia prolongs the duration of anesthesia as well as postoperative analgesia. In this study we evaluate the effects of intrathecal dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in lower limb surgeries. Methods: Total 60 patients belonging to ASA I or II aged 24 to 57 years of either sex were included in this study and randomly distributed into two groups. Group (B+M) received intrathecal 100mg magnesium sulfate and Group (B+D) received intrathecal 5.0 mcg dexmedetomidine with hyperbaric bupivacaine 15mg (3ml of 0.5%). Onset and duration of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia, hemodynamic changes and complications were recorded. Results: The mean Onset time of sensory block at T10 (min.), Time to maximum sensory block level (min.), Time in minutes for complete motor block (min.), Time for Motor Emergence from Bromage 3 (min.), Time for Sensory Emergence and Time for first analgesia (min) were significantly different between groups. Conclusion: The dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant with hyperbaric bupivacaine leads to earlier onset and prolonged duration of both sensory and motor block as compared to magnesium sulfate.