COMPARATIVE STUDY OF UNILATERAL SPINAL BLOCK WITH 0.5% HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE AND CLONIDINE VERSUS 0.5% HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE ALONE FOR ANAESTHESIA AND PERIOPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LOWER LIMB ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERIES

Introduction:Selective unilateral spinal anaesthesia is a useful approach for ambulatory lower limb surgery because it allows less hospital stay compared to bilateral block. Study done to compare the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% and clonidine versus hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% alone for lower limb orthopedic surgeries under unilateral spinal anaesthesia. Methods:Hundred patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 50 each. In group 1 Patients received 3ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 0.5 ml (50 micrograms) clonidine intrathecally and in group 2 Patients received 3ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine plus 0.5 ml normal saline intrathecally. Results and Conclusion:The addition of 50 µg of clonidine to bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia leads to faster onset of sensory and motor blockade, increased duration of sensory blockade, increased duration of postoperative analgesia and reduced requirement of rescue analgesia in the postoperative period. However, there is increased incidence of episodes of bradycardia in first hour following sub arachnoid block requiring treatment in both groups.