Abstract :
Introduction: Elderly orthopedic patients are frequently associated with systemic co morbidities like cardiac, pulmonary or endocrinal disorders. Regional anaesthesia has benefits over general anaesthesia in elderly. But the hypotension caused by regional anaesthesia is a limiting factor which can be overcome by using low dose of local anaesthetics. Low-dose local anaesthetics can limit the block level, but may not provide an adequate ansesthesia level and duration for surgery, requiring more analgesic consumption postoperatively. These shortcomes are overcome by adding intrathecal adjuvants with local anaesthetics. Among them ?2 agonists are gaining popularity. Our aim was to compare the characteristics of spinal block, haemodynamic changes following administration of low dose of ?2 agonist’s intrathecally combined with low-dose levobupivacaine in elderly patients undergoing orthopaedic surgeries.
Material and Methods: In this prospective randomized double blind study, 90 patients of more than 65 years of age posted for lower limb surgeries were allotted into three groups. Group-LS received 1.5cc of 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine with 0.5cc of normal saline, Group –LC received 1.5 cc of 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine with 30
Keyword :
Levobupivacaine, Clonidine, Dexmedetomidine, Spinal anaesthesia, Elderly patients