Comparison of the Effect of Scalp Block With Ropivacaine vs. Ropivacaine and Clonidine on Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Craniotomy Surgery Under General Anesthesia

Introduction Clonidine, an α2 agonist known for its hypotensive and analgesic effects, has proven beneficial in various routes of administration such as oral, intravenous, and local infiltration. Scalp blocks enhance hemodynamic stability during surgery and reduce intraoperative opioid requirements compared to controls in numerous studies. Additionally, they are effective in managing postoperative pain, resulting in reduced opioid consumption. Research has shown that clonidine can enhance and prolong the effects of intrathecal, epidural, and peripheral nerve blocks (e.g., brachial plexus, peribulbar). Here, we investigated the impact of adding clonidine at a dose of 1 μg/kg to scalp blocks performed with 0.5% ropivacaine for supra-tentorial craniotomy Material and methods This study was conducted on 60 patients under the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I and II who were scheduled for elective supratentorial craniotomy. Patients were divided into two equal groups of 30 and received a scalp block following general anesthesia. Patients in Group A (n=30) received a scalp block of 0.5% ropivacaine plus 1 ml of normal saline (total 21 cc). Patients in Group B (n=30) received a scalp block of 0.5% ropivacaine and clonidine (1 μg/kg) combined with 0.5 ml of normal saline (total 21 cc). Blood pressure, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation