Efficacy of analgesia using intrathecal adjuvants – A narrative review

Spinal anesthesia is a neuraxial anesthesia procedure in which local anesthetic is placed completely in the intrathecal space (subarachnoid space). Other neuraxial techniques comprise epidural and caudal anesthesia, each is used for a certain condition. Spinal anesthesia is a usual, safe, economical method in the surgical and anesthetic field which offers rapid and reliable anesthesia with muscle relaxation for patients undergoing abdominal and lower limb surgeries. The addition of an adjuvant extends and reinforces the sensory blockade produced by local anesthetics with a reduction in the dose of the local anaesthetic agent, thus dipping the side effects. The aim of the review is discussing various intrathecal adjuvants and weigh their significance along with their drawbacks.