Comparison of Intrathecal Clonidine and Fentanyl in Hyperbaric Bupivacaine for Spinal Anesthesia and Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Lower Abdominal Surgeries

Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Lower Abdominal Surgeries

Abstract

Introduction: Fentanyl and clonidine both prolong sensory and motor block of spinal anaesthesia and duration of postoperative analgesia when used as an adjuvant to intrathecal bupivacaine. Lack of studies that directly compare them regarding their efficacy prompted us to compare both drugs as an adjuvant to intrathecal bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing caesarian section. Subjects and Methods: It was a prospective randomized study in which eighty patients posted for lower limb orthopedic surgery were divided into two groups of forty each. Group C Received intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine (2.5 ml) +50 g clonidine (diluted to 0.5 ml). Group F Received intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine (2.5 ml) + fentanyl 25 g (diluted to 0.5 ml). Duration of postoperative analgesia, sensory and motor block characteristics, hemodynamic parameters, and side effects were recorded and analyzed. Results: Both the groups were comparable in demographic data, onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade, hemodynamic parameters, but the duration of analgesia is significantly longer in clonidine group when compared with fentanyl group. Sedation score is more in clonidine group. Conclusion: Addition of clonidine to intrathecal bupivacaine offers longer duration of postoperative analgesia than fentanyl but with higher sedation.