SummaryThe study evaluates the analgesic effects of epidural clonidine in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under combined epidurallgeneral anaesthesia. Forty ASA 1-2 patients were divided into two groups who received epidurally either clonidine 300 pg (group I ) or placebo (group 2). Anaesthesia was maintained with oxygenlnitrous oxide, a midazolam infusion, vecuronium, and boluses of fentanyl I00 pg administered as needed to maintain cardiovascular stability. The mean (SD) intraoperative fentanyl requirements were 2.05 (0.18) and 3.66 (0.3) pg.kg-'.h-'for groups I and 2 respectively ( p c 0.001). Patients in Group 1 had a lower heart rate after tracheal intubation and surgical incision (p c 0.02). In the recovery room, pain intensity was lower in group I (p < 0.003) and the mean (SO) time until analgesia request was jincreased from 48.5 (8.4) min in group 2 to 235.7 (33.2) min in group I (p c 0.001). Our results demonstrate that epidural clonidine produces decreased fentanyl requirements, improved cardiovascular stability, reduced pain intensity and effective postoperative analgesia in the recovery room.
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