Jamuna T1, Rachel Priyanka A2
AIMS: This study was done to ascertain whether epidural bupivacaine with buprenorphine provides better quality of analgesia when compared to epidural bupivacaine. The onset of pain relief, Duration of action, Changes in haemodynamic parameters, Side effects due to drugs was monitored.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 patients of both sexes who were to undergo lower limb and abdominal surgeries were selected. They were randomly divided into 2 groups of 30 patients each. Group A received 0.25% bupivacaine with 0.15mg buprenorphine for post-operative analgesia and Group B received 0.25% bupivacaine. The parameters recorded were HR, RR, MAP, VAS and Wt of patient, onset of analgesia and duration of analgesia.
RESULTS: The significance was calculated using T test. The results showed that 0.25% bupivacaine and buprenorphine was better than 0.25% Bupivacaine alone even though there was some amount of respiratory depression present.
CONCLUSION: Addition of buprenorphine to bupivacaine by epidural injection for post-operative analgesia improves the onset, the duration and the quality of analgesia, albeit keeping the possibility of late respiratory depression.
