Authors : Sasha MM, Shailaja S
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijca.2020.032
Volume : 7
Issue : 1
Year : 2020
Page No : 182-186
Introduction: Spinal anaesthesia in the form of subarachnoid block is the common modality of anaesthesia
for lower abdominal surgeries. However, its main drawback is the limited duration of anaesthesia and
analgesia. To overcome this several adjuncts to spinal anaesthesia have been tried by various routes to
prolong the duration of action. We aimed at evaluating the effect of intramuscular Dexmedetomidine or
Clonidine on the anaesthetic and analgesic effect after subarachnoid Bupivacaine.
Materials and Methods: 90 patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries were randomized to 3 groups
of 30 each to receive normal saline or 1mg/kg Dexmedetomidine or 2mg/kg Clonidine intramuscularly 30
minutes prior to spinal anaesthesia. Patient’s sedation score, duration of sensory, motor block and request
for first analgesic following surgery were noted.
Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable among the 3 groups, the onset time of sensory and
motor block was not different for the 3 groups. Sedation was greater for the Dexmedetomidine and
Clonidine group than the control. Duration of anaesthesia and analgesia was significantly prolonged in
Dexmedetomidine group when compared to the others.
Conclusion: Intramuscular Dexmedetomidine or Clonidine given by intramuscular route prior to lower
abdominal surgeries prolongs the duration of anaesthesia and analgesia without causing significant side
effects.
Keywords: Dexmedetomidine, Lower abdominal surgeries, Analgesia.