V. Anil Kumar
BACKGROUND: The use of opioids in anaesthesia could cause respiratory depression. Clonidine, a selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, and dexmedetomidine, a new generation highly selective alpha-2 adrenoreceptor agonist, are well known to inhibit catecholamine release. The present study compares the effects of intravenously administered clonidine versus dexmedetomidine to attenuate hemodynamic responses to pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic appendectomy under general anaesthesia. METHODOLOGY: A total of 60 patients of ASA physical status I and II, aged between 16 to 52 years, of either sex. scheduled for elective laparoscopic appendectomy were randomized into 3 groups (Group Clo, Dex and C) in a double-blind fashion, to receive either clonidine 1 µg/kg in normal saline, dexmedetomidine 0.8 µg/kg in normal saline or normal saline IV respectively. Total volume of the study drug was adjusted to 50 ml and administered over a period of 20 minutes before induction. RESULT: After pneumoperitoneum, significant rise in heart rate and arterial pressure was observed in group Clo. Patients in group Dex showed best control of arterial pressure. No significant episodes of hypotension were found in any group. CONCLUSION: Clonidine or Dexmedetomidine attenuates hemodynamic response to pneumoperitoneum, dexmedetomidine being more effective in this regard.
