“EFFICACY OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE AND FENTANYL AS ADJUNCTS TO EPIDURAL BUPIVACAINE FOR LOWER ABDOMINAL SURGERIES.”

Background and Aims: This prospective, randomized, double blind study was undertaken to establish the effect of addition of fentanyl or dexmedetomidine, as an adjunct to epidural bupivacaine in lower abdominal surgeries. Materials and Methods: Ninety ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class I and II patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries were enrolled to receive either saline (Group BS) or fentanyl (Group BF) or dexmedetomidine (Group BD) along with epidural bupivacaine for surgical anesthesia. All the study subjects received an epidural anesthesia with 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine along with either saline 2ml (Group BS) or fentanyl 1mcg/kg (Group BF) or dexmedetomidine 1.0 μg/kg (Group BD). The onset of motor and sensory block, duration of block, hemodynamic parameters, and adverse events were monitored. Results: Analgesia in the postoperative period was better in Group BD, together with duration of sensory and motor blockade.However incidence of sedation was more in the BD group. Conclusion: Hence, addition of Dexmedetomidine to epidural bupivacaine can be advantageous with respect to early onset of both sensory and motor block and increased duration of motor and sensory blockade and arousable sedation.