Abstract
STUDY OF ROPIVACAINE WITH DEXMEDETOMIDINE BY EPIDURAL ROUTE COMPARED TO ROPIVACAINE WITH CLONIDINE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LOWER ABDOMINAL SURGERIES

Regional Anaesthesia is an excellent choice which provides effective intra & post operative analgesia with a single technique which is being possible due to the availability of long acting amide local anaesthetics like Ropivacaine and by the addition of adjuvants like clonidine and Dexmedetomidine. Study was done for a period of 1 year on 50 patients 25 each group divided as Group RC is control group comprises of patients in whom 19ml of 0.75% Ropivacaine with Inj. clonidine 2µg/kg (made to 1 ml) ,Group RD Consists of patients in whom 19 ml of 0.75% Ropivacaine with inj. Dexmedetomidine - 1.5 µg/kg (made to 1 ml) administered epidurally for patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries. The mean time of onset of sensory blockade and motor blockade in Dexmedetomidine group is significantly less than Clonidine group. The 2 segment regression time in Dexmedetomidine group was significantly higher than Clonidine group. The mean duration of sensory and motor blockade was significantly higher with Dexmedetomidine group than Clonidine group. The duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged and highest in the Dexmedetomidine group. Dexmedetomidine is a better adjuvant than clonidine in epidural anaesthesia as far as patient comfort, stable cardio-respiratory parameters, intra-operative and postoperative analgesia is concerned.