Epidural Clonidine as an Adjuvant to Local Anesthetic in Lower Abdominal and Lower Limb Surgeries: A Randomised Controlled Study

Acute pain leads to adverse physiological and psychological disturbances. Hence, this study was done to evaluate and compare the onset and duration of sensory anesthesia, motor paralysis and duration of analgesia using 0.5% plain bupivacaine, with clonidine (2μg/kg) in patients posted for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries under epidural anaesthesia.

62 Patients posted for elective lower abdominal, gynaecological and lower limb surgeries under epidural anesthesia, aged 18 to 60 years, height more than 150 cms of ASA physical status 1 or 2 were included. All patients were randomized into two groups of 31 individuals each.

Clonidine in the dose of 2μg/kg added to bupivacaine injected into epidural space significantly prolonged the duration of analgesia when compared to bupivacaine alone. No effect on the onset of sensory and motor blockade was observed. However, it increases the duration of motor blockade. Clonidine also has effect on sedation level, pulse rate and mean arterial blood pressure.

Clonidine causes increased sedation; fall in pulse rate and mean arterial blood pressure, which however, did not require active intervention in this study.