RESUMO
Background: Pain is an individual and subjective experiencewhich can be modulated by several physiological,psychological and environmental factors such as previousexperience, fear, anxiety and cultural factors .The usual trendis to prescribe an opioid or a NSAID for postoperativeanalgesia. NSAIDs also have certain side effects likehemostasis alteration, renal dysfunction, gastrointestinalhemorrhage etc. TAP block is a local anaesthetic block used toprovide analgesia to the anterior and lateral abdominal wall.The present study was conducted to compare pain scores andrescue analgesia required amongst subjects receivingropivacaine and clonidine versus ropivacaine alone.Materials and Methods: A prospective, randomized, doubleblinded control trial undertaking 70 patients was conductedbetween September 2014 to March 2016 at the Department ofAnesthesiology, Northern Railway Central Hospital, New Delhi.Patients undergoing infra umbilical surgery under subarachnoidblock were included hysterectomy, caesarean section,cystolithotomy and bilateral inguinal hernias. All investigatorsinvolved in study were unaware of envelope details throughoutstudy period. Group C was given 20 ml of 0.2% ropivacainewith 25 microgram clonidine on each side, total of 40 ml of0.2% ropivacaine with 50 mcg clonidine. Group R was given 20ml of 0.2% ropivacaine on each side, total 40 ml of 0.2%ropivacaine. The postoperative pain at 1 hr, 3 hr, 6 hr, 9 hr, 12hr,18 hr, 24 hr by VAS score were noted and the totalpostoperative rescue analgesic dose in two groups. All the datathus obtained was arranged in a tabulated form and analyzedusing SPSS software.Results: Total males included in the study were 17 andfemales were 53. There was significant difference in group Cand group R in VAS score. It was consistently lower in group Cwhen compared with group R for first 12 hours. Total amount ofrescue analgesia used in the two groups was significantlydifferent. Total mean 150 mg of diclofenac sodium was given topatients in group C.Conclusion: USG-TAP block when used with adjuvant a2agonist (clonidine) along with local anaesthetic (ropivacaine)leads to prolongation of analgesic effect, lower vas scores andreduced requirement of rescue analgesic.