Comparison of Different Doses of Clonidine as an Additive to Intrathecal Isobaric Levobupivacaine in Patients Undergoing Infraumbilical Surgeries.

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia is a safe, reliable, and inexpensive technique with the advantage of providing surgical anesthesia and prolonged postoperative pain relief, and it also blunts autonomic, somatic, and endocrine responses to surgical stimulus. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy 15 µg and 30 µg of intrathecal clonidine along with 3 mL of 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine in comparison with plain 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine. SETTING AND DESIGN: The prospective, interventional, randomized, comparative, double-blinded study was conducted after obtaining approval from the institutional ethical committee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients posted for elective lower-limb orthopedic surgeries were randomly divided into three groups with 25 patients in each group as L (levobupivacaine 0.5%), LC-15 (levobupivacaine 0.5% + clonidine 15 µg), and LC-30 (levobupivacaine 0.5% + clonidine 30 µg). All the patients were given spinal anesthesia using the study drugs, and various parameters were monitored. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The three groups were compared statistically using analysis of variance and Student's t-test (independent samples t-test). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference among the three groups with respect to the onset of time for maximum sensory blockade and duration of analgesia. A statistically significant difference was noted among the three groups with respect to the onset of time for maximum motor blockade. CONCLUSION: Both doses of clonidine produced prolonged sensory block compared to the control. It has been found that 30 µg of clonidine as an adjuvant has produced faster onset and prolonged duration sensory block compared to 15 µg of clonidine.