Effect of Adding Clonidine versus Fentanyl to Intrathecal Hyperbaric Bupivacaine on Spinal Block Characteristics in Abdominal Hysterectomy Surgeries: A Double Blind Controlled Study

Objective To compare the duration and quality of analgesia of clonidine and fentanyl used as adjuvants to intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine. Materials and Methods ASA grade 1 and 2 patients (60 patients) were randomly divided into three groups of 20 patients each for abdominal hysterectomy surgeries. Group A received intrathecal 15 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine and 1 ml normal saline, group B received 15 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine and 1 ml (50 g) fentanyl, and group C received 15 mg hyperbaric bupivacaine and 1 ml (150 g) clonidine. The onset and duration of sensory and motor block, quality of analgesia, and the incidence of side effects in three groups were observed and compared. Results Three groups were compared based on the demographic data, and the onset of sensory block at T8 level and of motor block was compared among these groups. Significant prolongation of duration of sensory (P = 0.0000001) and motor block (P = 0.0000001) was found in group C. Significant hypotension was found in group C (P less than 0.05) and the postoperative pain scoring chart (VAS chart) was 1.07 0.87 in group C and 3.27 0.67 in group B (P less than 0.05). Conclusion Intrathecal clonidine is associated with prolonged motor and sensory block, hemodynamic stability, and low postoperative pain score compared to fentanyl.