ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Aim: This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of intrathecal Buprenorphine with intrathecal Dexmedetomidine for prolonging the duration of postoperative analgesia. Methodology: In this prospective, double blinded control study; sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups each of thirty, scheduled for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries under spinal anaesthesia. Group B (n=30) received intrathecal 150 µg Buprenorphine along with 15 mg of heavy 0.5 % Bupivacaine and Group D (n=30) received intrathecal 15 µg Dexmedetomidine along with 15 mg of heavy 0.5 % Bupivacaine. Onset of sensory block, time to first request for postoperative analgesia and mean sedation score were measured. Pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) at 2nd, 4th & 8th hour postoperatively. Incidence of adverse effects like nausea, vomiting, pruritus, hypotension, bradycardia and urinary retention were monitored and recorded. Pulse rate, mean arterial pressure and oxygen saturation was recorded every 10 minute for 1st hour postoperatively, then half an hourly for next 7 hours, then at 12th and 24th hour. Statistical analysis was done by student’s t test, Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-Test by using Epi.Info 7 software. p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Time to first request for postoperative analgesia was significantly longer in Buprenorphine group (mean±SD, 17.63±2.28 hrs