Effect of Two Different Doses of Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvant in Bupivacaine Induced Subarachnoid Block for Elective Abdominal Hysterectomy Operations: A Prospective, Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVES: Improvements in perioperative pain management for lower abdominal operations has been shown to reduce morbidity, induce early ambulation, and improve patients' long-term outcomes. Dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha-2 agonist, has recently been used intrathecally as adjuvant to spinal anesthesia to prolong its efficacy. We compared two different doses of dexmedetomidine added to hyperbaric bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia. The primary endpoints were the onset and duration of sensory and motor block, and duration of analgesia. . METHODS: A total of 100 patients, aged 35-60 years old, assigned to have elective abdominal hysterectomy under spinal anesthesia were divided into two equally sized groups (D5 and D10) in a randomized, double-blind fashion. The D5 group was intrathecally administered 3ml 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 5µg dexmedetomidine in 0.5ml of normal saline and the D10 group 3ml 0.5% bupivacaine with 10µg dexmedetomidine in 0.5ml of normal saline. For each patient, sensory and motor block onset times, block durations, time to first analgesic use, total analgesic need, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, hemodynamics, and side effects were recorded. . RESULTS: Although both groups had a similar demographic profile, sensory and motor block in the D10 group (p<0.050) was earlier than the D5 group. Sensory and motor block duration and time to first analgesic use were significantly longer and the need for rescue analgesics was lower in the D10 group than the D5 group. The 24-hour VAS score was significantly lower in the D10 group (p<0.050). Intergroup hemodynamics were comparable (p>0.050) without any appreciable side effects. . CONCLUSION: Spinal dexmedetomidine increases the sensory and motor block duration and time to first analgesic use, and decreases analgesic consumption in a dose-dependent manner.

A Prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled study comparing two different Trendelenburg tilts in laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy positioning.

BACKGROUND: Bispectral index (BIS) used for intra-operative depth assessment under general anesthesia (GA) can be altered by different factors. This study was designed to detect the alteration in BIS reading with two different Trendelenburg (TBG) tilt in laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study was designed involving 40 American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I and II female patients, aged 35-60 years, scheduled to undergo LAVH under GA. Patients were divided into two groups with TBG >30° and TBG <30°. BIS readings; systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate were recorded in supine position. Patients were then shifted to desired TBG position either (>30°) or (<30°) as per group allotment. Data were recorded at 30 min intervals and all the patients were followed upto 24 h postoperatively for any recall. RESULTS: A rise in BIS value was noticed, when position was changed from supine to head down in both groups. During comparison between two groups with different angulations, TBG >30° showed a higher BIS value than TBG <30°. This statistically significant (P < 0.05) trend was observed at all the 30, 60, 90, and 120(th) min interval. Interestingly, BIS values returned to preoperative levels following adopting final supine position. No incidence of awareness was reported in both the series throughout the study. CONCLUSION: Though awareness remains unaltered BIS value gets increased with higher angle of inclination in TBG position during LAVH operation.