Abstract

Background: Spinal anaesthesia is the most common neuraxial anaesthesia for infraumblical surgeries. Various adjuvants are used to enhance the quality and duration of spinal anaesthesia. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the onset, duration of sensory and motor block, hemodynamic effects, duration of analgesia and adverse effects of fentanyl given intrathecally with 0.5% bupivacaine heavy in patients undergoing lower limb orthopaedic surgeries. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized double blinded study was conducted on total sixty patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries. They were divided into two groups of thirty five patients each. Group F received 25 μg fentanyl with 3 ml 0.5% bupivacaine heavy and group B received 3.0 ml 0.5% bupivacaine heavy. The onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade, duration of analgesia, haemodyamics, and side effects were assessed. Results: The mean time of onset of sensory and motor blockade was significantly less in fentanyl ( p<0.001) .Duration of sensory , motor block and duration of analgesia was more in fentanyl group( p value <0.001) whereas incidence of side effects such as bradycardia, hypotension, shivering were also less but the difference was not significant . Conclusions: We concluded from our study that addition of fentanyl intrathecally as an adjuvant effectively augmented the quality of spinal anaesthesia and also provided stable haemodynamics and lesser side effects as compared to plain bupivacaine.

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