RESUMO
BACKGROUND:Clonidine is added to intrathecal bupivacaine to improve intraoperative analgesia and to increase the duartionof sensory and motor block.AIMS: The aim of the study to evaluate and compare the effect of additon of three different doses of clonidine (15 μg, 30 μg and 45 μg) to 12.5mg hyperbaric bupivacaine in patients undergoing lower limb surgeries under spinal anesthesia.STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, prospective study was conducted at tertiary academic hospital.MATERIALS AND METHOD: 100 patients enrolled in the study were randomly divided into four groups of 25 each. Group-I received bupivacaine, whereas group-II, III and IV received 15μg, 30μg and 45μg clonidine respectively as an adjuvant to 12.5mg bupivacaine. The volume of solution was kept constant 3ml by adding normal saline whenever needed.RESULT: Highest level of sensory block, time to achieve this level and highest Bromage scale recorded were comparable among the groups. The regression of sensory block to S2 dermatome and mean duration of motor block were greatest in group IV followed by group III, II and I. There was significant fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in group IV as compared to other groups. Significant prolongation of sensory and motor blockade and duration of postoperative analgesia with group-IV as compared to other groups.CONCLUSION: Thus, addition of 30μg clonidine gives excellent analgesia with less adrehemodynamic instability and sedation