DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i06.055

Pages: 2416-2421

Epidural anaesthesia with adjuvants is the preferred method for intra and postoperative pain relief in lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries but search for ideal adjuvant without any side effect goes on. This study was conducted to evaluate the onset, extent and duration of sensory and motor block and side effects of clonidine or dexmedetomidine when used as an adjuvant in epidural anaesthesia in lower abdominal and lower limb surgery. 60 patients of ASA status I and II, posted for lower abdominal and lower limb orthopaedic surgery were randomly allocated into two groups of 30 each. Group I(LC group) patients received 18 ml of 0.5% levo bupivacaine and clonidine 2mcg/kg. Group II(LD group) patients received 18 ml of 0.5% levo bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine 1.5mcg/kg. Preoperative and postoperative block characteristics as well as hemodynamic parameters were observed and recorded. The results were Dexmedetomidine had an earlier onset and longer duration of sensory and motor block on comparison to clonidine. Sedation scores were statistically significant with dexmedetomidine group in comparison to clonidine group. In conclusion Dexmedetomidine was a better than clonidine as an adjuvant to levo bupivacaine in epidural anaesthesia in lower abdominal and lower limb surgery.