A prospective double blinded study on effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine on onset and duration of subarachnoid blockade

To study the effect of low dose intrathecal dexmedetomidine as adjuvant to hyperbaric Bupivacaine in relation to onset & duration of sensory & motor block

In the present double blinded prospective, randomized controlled trial study, we have aimed to compare the two groups of ASA-grade I patients divided in two groups i.e., group B-Bupivacaine 2.5ml (12.5 mg) alone (control group) and group BD-Bupivacaine 2.5 ml (12.5 mg) combined with Dexmedetomidine 5 μg undergoing lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries to evaluate whether there is any clinching evidence of augmentation of motor and sensory block by addition of low dose dexmedetomidine (5μg).

Among both the groups, mean time to achieve onset of sensory & motor blockade was found to be not statistically significant (P>0.05). The duration of sensory block observed in group BD was 143.6±12.74 in contrast to group B 107±9.74. The difference in mean duration of analgesia between group B vs. BD, is statistically significant (P<0.001). The duration of motor blockade in group B found was 174.2±11.26 in relation of group BD 276.4±13.96which is statistically significant (P<0.001).

It was concluded from the present study that addition of low dose dexmedetomidineto hyperbaric bupivacaine for subarachnoid block definitely prolongs the duration of sensory and motor blockade.