Abstract

Background: Epidural anaesthesia is a safe alternative for general anaesthesia and can be supplemented with spinal or general anaesthesia for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing lower limb surgeries. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of clonidine as an adjuvant to levobupivacaine, an S (-) enantiomer of bupivacaine. Material And Methods: Fifty-two patients of ASA grade I and II undergoing lower limb surgeries were randomized in two groups as L and LC. Group L received 0.125% levobupivacaine (10 ml) and group LC received 0.125% levobupivacaine (9 ml) with clonidine 1 ml (2µg/kg). Epidural top up given at the time of skin closure at the end of surgery and duration of postoperative analgesia, VAS score, time of rescue analgesics were observed in both the groups. The haemodynamic variables such as heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and SPO2 at various time intervals were measured. Any untoward side effects were noted in both groups. Results: Duration of analgesia was prolonged in group LC [434.61 mins] compared to group L (264.31 mins) which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Similarly clonidine group had less VAS score compared to control group. There was no significant change in the haemodynamic variables between the two groups. Hypotension and bradycardia was found in clonidine group compared to the control group, which was not statistically significant.

Description