Abstract

Background:Aim: To evaluate and compare the following factors in two groups –
intrathecal dexmedetomidine and intrathecal buprenorphine as an adjuvant to 0.5%
hyperbaric bupivacaine for lower abdominal surgeries and lower limb surgeries.
Materials and Methods: A clinical study was undertaken to compare the effects of
intrathecal Buprenorphine and dexmedetomidine as additives to 0.5 % hyperbaric
bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia. This prospective, randomized, Double blind study
was conducted on 60 adult patients of ASA physical status 1 and 2 in the age group of
18 to 60 years, posted for elective lower abdominal surgeries at Osmania Medical
college Hospital, Hyderabad from the period 2017 – 2020. Patients were randomly
allocated into two groups namely, Group BB and Group BD of 30 each. Patients in
Group BB received 60mcg of Buprenorphine with 0.5% bupivacaine 15mg
intrathecally. Patients in Group BD received 5mcg of Dexmedetomidine with 0.5%
bupivacaine 15mg intrathecally. After connecting monitors, the required preloading
done to all patients. Subarachnoid block was carried out under aseptic precautions.
Pulse rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure and oxygen saturation were
recorded at 0, 2, 5 minutes and thereafter every 10 minutes up to 90 minutes
intraoperatively.
Results: The following parameters were observed - onset and duration of sensory block
and motor block, time for sensory regression to S1, degree of sedation, hemodynamic
stability and any side effects associated with these drugs. Collected data were analysed
using appropriate statistics. Demographic datas were not statistically significant. The
onsets of sensory and motor blockades were not statistically significant. The duration of
sensory blockade was prolonged in dexmedetomidine group (51%) compared to
buprenorphine group. The Motor blockade, sensory regression to S1 were also got
prolonged in Dexmedetomidine group Hemodynamic parameters were comparable
between the groups. In our study The onsets of sensory and motor blockades were not
statistically significance between the groups. The duration of both sensory and motor
blockades were prolonged in dexmedetomidine group compared to buprenorphine
group with the best statistical significance. Both groups had stable and comparable
hemo dynamics during the study. Compared to buprenorphine, intrathecal
administration of dexmedetomidine as additive to hyperbaric bupivacaine was
associated with fewer side effects.
Conclusion: Our study concludes that dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to intrathecal
bupivacaine prolongs both sensory and motor block duration with fewer side effects
compared to buprenophine.