Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to Nalbuphine in patient controlled analgesia for post-operative pain in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A preliminary study

Nalbuphine (Nalufi n -Nalbuphine HCl 20mg / 1ml-Amoun Pharmaceutical Co. SAE.) to 100 ml with normal saline over 24 hours. The PCA infuser unit infused at rate of 2 ml.h-1 with lock out time 15 min & bolus of 1 ml per time. Patients in group D received Dexmedetomidine (Precedex -Dexmedetomidine HCl 200 g/2ml-Hospira, Inc, Lke Forest, IL 60045 USA) (0.5 g.kg-1 over 10 min followed by 0.2 g.kg.-1h-1) prepared with 50 ml normal saline as intravenous infusion over 24 hours post-operative. Patients in group P received 50 ml of normal saline as intravenous infusion over 24 hours. Primary outcome measure was Nalbuphine consumption. Secondary outcome measures were visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain control, patient satisfaction and side effects.