Comparison of Bupivacaine with Two Different Doses of Clonidine under Spinal Anaesthesia in Infraumbilical SurgeriesA Randomised Clinical Study

Introduction: Spinal anaesthesia is known as a safe and effective way to give anaesthesia during infraumbilical and lower limb surgeries. Intrathecal clonidine is a safe non opioid adjuvant used with local anaesthetics to prolong sensory and motor block, promotes sedation and analgesia.

Aim: To compare the effects of bupivacaine with two different doses of clonidine under spinal anaesthesia in infraumbilical surgeries.

Materials and Methods: This randomised double-blinded study was conducted in the Department of Anaesthesiology at Hind Institute Of Medical Science, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The duration of the study was 19 months, from January 2021 to August 2022. A total of 60 patients (36 males and 24 females) were enrolled in the study and were randomly assigned to one of two groups (group A and group B) of 30 patients each. Group A bupivacaine heavy 12.5 mg with 15 mcg of clonidine, total volume 3 mL and group B bupivacaine heavy 12.5 mg with 30 mcg of clonidine, total volume 3 mL. The study parameters were: onset of sensory and motor block, duration of postoperative analgesia and any side effects (hypotension, bradycardia, sedation or any other). The statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21.0.

Results: The mean age of the study participants group A (44.51±12.84) years and group B (42.28±13.12) years. The demographical data showed comparable findings. The mean of onset of sensory (160.37±33.64) seconds and motor block (197.2±12.36) seconds in group B was statistically lower than group A. The mean duration of analgesia in group A (302.58±18.62) minutes was lower than group B (318.73±29.46) minutes. The mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was higher at every follow-up in group A as compared to in group B. The mean Ramsay sedation score was significantly higher in Group B at every follow-up than in group A.

Conclusion: Spinal anaesthesia performed with 0.5% bupivacaine heavy with 30 mcg clonidine was proven to be a more effective adjuvant in providing early onset of the sensory and motor blockade intraoperatively and prolongation of the duration of effective postoperative analgesia when compare to 15 mcg clonidine.