Olugumanu Srinivas Kumar, Pradeep Hosagaoudar, Y. V. Murali, Sreenivas Reddy M
BACKGROUND Epidural anaesthesia using Inj. Ropivacaine results in an effective anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia and addition of adjuvants would be advantageous. Clonidine and dexmedetomidine are α2-agonists used as adjuvants in epidural anaesthesia. Aim of our study was to compare Inj. Dexmedetomidine and Inj. Clonidine added to epidural ropivacaine with respect haemodynamic parameters- heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, motor blockade and sedations scores in patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective, randomized, double blind study involved 60 patients of ASA-I, II who were categorized into two groups- Group-RD (n=30) received 1μ/kg Inj. Dexmedetomidine and Group-RC (n=30) received 1 μg/kg Inj. Clonidine. Patients in both groups received 17 ml of Inj. Ropivacaine epidurally. Patients were assessed for sensory block of T10 level, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, motor blockade using modified Bromage score and sedation score using Ramsay sedation scale. RESULTS Epidural anaesthesia using ropivacaine and adjuvants either clonidine or dexmedetomidine resulted in good sensory analgesia. Haemodynamic parameters with respect to heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were similar between the two groups and were statistically not significant (p >0.05). Sedation scores and modified Bromage scores were statistically significant (p <0.05) for brief intervals of time. CONCLUSION Clonidine and Dexmedetomidine when used as adjuvants to epidural ropivacaine result in stable haemodynamics. Their sedation and motor blockade effects are comparable without significant adverse effects.
