Comparison of Intraoperative and Post-Operative Outcome between Intrathecal Ropivacaine and Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine for Lower Limb Surgeries

Use of intrathecal adjuvant such as Dexmedetomidine has gained popularity with the aim of prolonging the duration of block, provides stable hemodynamic conditions, good quality of intraoperative and prolonged postoperative analgesia with minimal side effects. The aim and objective of the study was to compare the hemodynamic, sensory, and analgesic potentiating effects of intrathecally administered dexmedetomidine when combined with ropivacaine. Materials And Methods prospective randomized double blind study, 60 patients of ASA I and II in the age groups of18-60 years of either sex under going lower limb surgeries. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups of 30 (Group A) each to receive intrathecally with 3cc of 0.5 %Ropivacaine with 0.5ml sterile water and (Group B) 3cc of 0.5 %Ropivacaine with 5g of Dexmedetomidine in 0.5ml sterile water. The hemodynamic changes time of onset and duration of sensory blockade, time of first analgesic request postoperatively were recorded. Results The demographic profile of patients was comparable in both the groups. Patients in Group B had a significantly longer sensory block than patients with in Group A. The mean time of sensory regression to S2 was (32331 min) in Group B and (19115 min) in Group A. The time for rescue analgesia was significantly longer in Group B (376.3720.60min) as compared to Group A (210.816.83MIN). Conclusion Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to Ropivacaine is associated with prolonged sensory, hemodynamic stability, prolonged postoperative analgesia.