DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i05.076

Pages: 2275-2279

Many adjuvants have been used with local anesthetics in spinal anesthesia but none has been found ideal. We have conducted this prospective randomized double blind study to evaluate the effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine when added to isobaric ropivacaine in spinal anesthesia. 50 female patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomies under spinal anesthesia were included in this study and were randomly allocated in to two groups. Group C received intrathecal 3 ml of 0.75% isobaric ropivacaine + 0.5 ml normal saline and group D received intrathecal 3 ml of 0.75% isobaric ropivacaine + 5 μg dexmedetomidine in 0.5 ml of normal saline. Following intrathecal administration, onset of sensory and motor blockade, maximum dermatomal level achieved, duration of analgesia, hemodynamic parameters and incidence of side effects were observed. Onset of sensory and motor block was earlier in group D compared to group C which was statistically significant. Block regression was significantly delayed with the addition of intrathecal dexmedetomidine (Group D) as compared to ropivacaine alone (Group C). Both, time to two segment regressions and time to regression to S2 were delayed significantly in group D. The duration of analgesia was also significantly prolonged in group D (348.00±23.02 min) as compared to group C.(207.60±17.23min) There were no significant difference in haemodynamic parameters and incidence of side effects in both the groups. The addition of dexmedetomidine(5 μg) to isobaric ropivacaine in spinal anesthesia produces significantly longer sensory and motor blockade along with prolonged postoperative analgesia, and haemodynamic stability without any significant side effects.