A Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Ropivacaine 0.75% Alone and in Combination With Dexmedetomidine in Epidural Anaesthesia for Lower Limb Surgeries

AIMThis study was aimed to study the efficacy and safety of ropivacaine alone and in combination with dexmedetomidine in epidural anaesthesia in patients undergoing lower limb surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODSA randomised study was conducted on 80 patients at Krishna Hospital, Karad, on those patients undergoing limb surgeries and efficacy of ropivacaine (0.75%) and ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine was compared.Eighty patients belonging to ASA physical status 1-2 were selected for the study and randomly allocated to two groups of 40 each, Ropivacaine (RN) group and Ropivacaine + Dexmedetomidine (RD) group.Group RN received 16 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine.Group RD received 16 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine + Dexmedetomidine. RESULTSThe mean time of onset of sensory blockade in group RD was 1.73±0.73min and group RN was 2.43±1.07min.Onset of sensory blockade was clinically faster in group RD (p<004).The range of block in group RD was T10-T4 and in group RN was T10-T5 and was clinically and statistically not significant.The mean duration of analgesia in group RN was 205.53±36.36min and group RD was 217.2±48.69min.The duration of motor block in group RD was 195.83±29.24mins and group RN was 187.26±33.75min.Changes in haemodynamic parameters were not clinically significant. CONCLUSIONThis randomised, double blinded, clinical trial shows that ropivacaine 0.75% combined with dexmedetomidine in epidural anaesthesia provides faster onset of sensory block and longer duration of motor block compared to plain ropivacaine 0.75%.