Abstract :
Background: A prospective randomized study was conducted to study the efficacy and safety of Bupivacaine,
Ropivacaine and Ropivacaine with clonidine intrathecally for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries. Methods: 120
patients undergoing lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries of 120 minutes or lesser duration were randomized into
three groups, n = 40. Group A received 3 ml 0.5% Bupivacaine (15 mg)+ 0.2ml normal saline, Group B received 3 ml of
0.75% isobaric Ropivacaine (22.5 mg)+ 0.2ml normal saline and Group C received 3ml of 0.75% Ropivacaine (22.5mg)+
clonidine 30 µg. Quality of subarachnoid blockade and hemodynamic changes were compared. Results: Onset time and
time to maximum motor blockade was rapid in all the three groups ; duration of motor blockade was significantly shorter in
Ropivacaine group and comparable between Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine with clonidine group. Onset of sensory
blockade and maximum sensory block level achieved were comparable between three groups. Time to, onset of maximum
sensory block and regression of sensory block by 2 segments were shorter in the Bupivacaine group compared to the other
2 groups. Better hemodynamic profiles were noted in Ropivacaine groups compared to Bupivacaine group. There were no
statistically significant differences between the Quality of sedation and the side effects between the groups. Conclusion:
Hemodynamic profile was better with Ropivacaine and onset, quality, duration of analgesia, etc. were comparable with
Bupivacaine when clonidine 30µg was added as adjuvant.
Keyword :
Bupivacaine, Clonidine, Intrathecal, Ropivacaine.