MOTOR , SENSORY BLOCKADE AND POST OPERATIVE ANALGESIA OF LOW DOSE INTRATHECAL DEXMEDETOMIDINE AND CLONIDINE AS ADJUVANT TO BUPIVACAINE ON CHARACTERISTICS OF SPINAL BLOCK - A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background : To evaluate the effect of low dose intrathecal dexmedetomidine and clonidine as adjuvant to bupivacaine on motor , sensory blockade and post operative analgesia . A total of 60 patients , scheduled for lower abdominal , lower limb and gynaecological procedures were selected to participate in this prospective , randomised double blind study . After injecting the drug time were noted (T0) and the patient were turned to supine position . Following observation were recorded : Duration of sensory block(T5) , Duration of motor block (T6) , Time for rescue analgesia(T7) were noted , Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Score (VAS)(0:no pain, 10:maximum pain). Results : The results of outcome variables were suggestive of improved effect of addition of clonidine or dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to 0.5 % Bupivacaine (heavy) on duration of sensory block , duration of motor block , post operative analgesia . Conclusions : Increased duration of both motor , sensory block and post operative analgesia in dexmedetomidine group compared to clonidine can be applicable in improving the duration of post operative analgesia in surgical cases.