Abstract

The duration and quality of analgesia is improved when a local anesthetic is combined with alpha 2 adrenergic agonist. Though, the effects of clonidine on local anesthetics have been extensively studied, there are limited studies demonstrating the effects of epidural dexmedetomidine on local anesthetics. The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy of dexmeditomedine and clonidine as adjuvant to levobupivacaine for epidural anesthesia in lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This Prospective comparative study was done to assess the efficacy and clinical profile of two α2 adrenergic agonists – clonidine and dexmedetomidine administered epidurally in combination with intrathecal 0.5%levobupivacaine. 60 adult patients ASA Class I and II undergoing lower abdomen and lower limb surgery were randomly assigned into two groups, to receive either epidural dexmedetomidine (1.5μg/kg) or clonidine (2 μg/kg) with 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine. RESULTS: Based on the VAS score of the patients and time taken for rescue analgesia, it was found that better post-operative analgesia was provided for longer duration by dexmedetomidine than clonidine. Though no significant differences have been observed based on the hemodynamic parameters between both the groups of the patients, dexmedetomidine has shown beteer hemodynamic stability as compared to clonidine. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that in patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries, administration of epidural anaesthesia with 0.5% of Levobupivacaine with dexmedetomidine provided better and longer post- operative analgesia as compared to clonidine

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