Shraddha Agrawal1, Avan Suryawanshi2, Alok Kumar Swain3, Arun Andappan4, M. Ramesh Kumar5
BACKGROUND
Regional anaesthesia is an armamentarium in the hands of the anaesthesiologist
to provide swift, effective and safe condition for surgery. However, local
anaesthetics are characterised by slower onset and shorter duration of action,
when used in larger doses can cause systemic toxicity. Hence, adjuvants are used
to better the quality of blocks. Here, I have used dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant
in transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block to assess duration of action,
hemodynamic effects and side-effects.
METHODS
Our study is randomised double blinded comparative study, in which we have
compared two groups, one received ropivacaine alone and another received
ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant. Assessment was done for
duration of action, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, analgesic drug usage,
sedation scoring and incidence of side-effects and complications. This study was
conducted on 94 parturients with 47 patients in each group.
RESULTS
Dexmedetomidine has a statistically significant prolonged action and has given
excellent analgesia post-operatively. Additional analgesics were required in a
lesser number than the control group. There were no hemodynamic disturbances
and complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine for ultra-sound guided TAP block is
associated with prolonged and excellent analgesia with lesser requirement for
additional analgesic usage, lower VAS scores, hemodynamic stability, and minimal
sedation.
