Comparative Study Intrathecal Clonidine versus Intrathecal Fentanyl in Hyperbaric Bupivacaine for Spinal Anaesthesia and Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Lower Limb Surgeries

Introduction: Fentany land clonidine both prolong sensory and motor block of spinal anaesthesia and duration of post operative analgesia when used as an adjuvant to intrathecal bupivacaine. Although these drugs are routinely used in the operating room, direct comparison as such of these two drugs in terms of efficacy and analgesia has not been fully explored yet. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of intrathecal clonidine with that intrathecal fentanyl with respect to time of onset, duration and post op analgesia of the subarachnoid block. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of Anaesthesiology at MGM Hospital, Navi Mumbai. A total of 40 patients belonging to ASA 1 and 2 between 20 to 60 years of age of either sex were included in the study. It was a prospective randomized study in which forty patients posted for lower limb orthopedic or general surgery were divided into two groups of twenty each. Group C? Received intrathecalhyper baricbupivacaine (2.5ml) +30 ?g clonidine. Group F?Received intrathecalhyper baricbupivacaine (2.5ml) +fentanyl20?g. Time of onset and duration of sensory and motor block characteristics, hemodynamic parameters, post op analgesia and side effects, if any were studied. Results and Conclusion: It was concluded that, addition of clonidine to intrathecal bupivacaine offers longer duration of postoperative analgesia than fentanyl and with higher sedation.