Comparative Study between Intrathecal Bupivacaine and Intrathecal Bupivacaine with Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant

Abstract

Background: Dexmedetomidine is an α 2 adrenergic agonist is used as adjuvant to local anesthetics intrathecally. It produces satisfactory effect with quite lower doses of spinal bupivacaine. Present study was done to assess the effect of intrathecal Dexmeditomidine added to Bupivacaine on onset and duration of sensory and motor block and post operative analgesic effect. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective, observational study in 60 selected patients who were posted for lower abdominal surgeries were divided in to two groups by simple random sampling. One group received only Bupivacaine while the other group received Bupivacaine and Dexmedetomidine. Effects of Spinal Anaesthesia, haemodynamics as well as their side effects were studied. The quantitative variables were compared using two-tailed student's ttest assuming equal variance for both the study groups. Results: The density of both motor and sensory blockade was increased up to 3 to 4 hours postoperative, after adding dexemedetomidine. Addition of Dexmedetomidine bupivacaine intrathecally improves the postoperative analgesic efficacy. The mean analgesic requirement was lower for patients in whom intrathecal Dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine did not produce any untoward intraoperative and postoperative complications. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine with bupivacaine produces satisfactory anesthesia without hemodynamic instability.