ABSTRACT
Introduction: Pain was defined by Mountcastle in the year1968 as “that sensory experience evoked by stimuli thatinjures”. It is a subjective feeling and failure to relieve pain inany procedure cannot be accepted, both ethically and morally,and adequate pain relief must be treated as basic human right.Pain relief both in peri-operative and post-operative period isthe crux of anaesthesia. The aim of the study was to evaluatethe efficacy of epidural Dexmedetomidine and Clonidine as anadjuvant to Bupivacaine in patients undergoing infraumbilicalsurgeries.Material and Methods: Seventy (70) patients aged 20-60years (ASA I-II) undergoing infraumbilical surgery wererandomly allocated to two groups- Group BD receivingepidurally 15ml Bupivacaine (0.5%) + Dexmedetomidine(1mg/kg) and Group BC receiving 15ml Bupivacaine (0.5%)+ Clonidine (1mg/kg). After securing I/V line, infusionstarted with R/L and under strict aseptic condition, patientswere administered epidural block via 18G Tuohy needlein the sitting or lateral position at L3-L4 intervertebralspace.Results: We observed that the time taken for the onset ofsensory block at T10 level, time for sensory block upto T6 andthe time taken for maximum motor block is less in Group BDcompared to Group BC. Regarding the post-operative block,the time to sensory two segment regression, time to sensoryregression to S1, time for recovery of motor block and timeto first rescue analgesia were more in Group BD compared toGroup BC. And the difference between the two groups weresignificant (p<0.001).Conclusion: On the basis of the findings of our present clinicalstudy, we can come to conclusion that Dexmedetomidine ismore effective epidural adjuvant compared to Clonidine inpatients undergoing infraumbilical surgery.