EFFECT OF ORAL CLONIDINE PREMEDICATION ON THE ONSET AND DURATION OF SPINAL ANESTHESIA WITH HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE

BACKGROUND: Spinal anesthesia is the most common technique used for lower abdominal surgeries.Hyperbaric Bupivacaine has limited duration of action.Clonidine has been used to prolong the duration of local anaesthetic.Hence in our study, we studied the effects of oral clonidine premedication on spinal anaesthesia with hyperbaric Bupivacaine with reference to sedation, onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade including its effects on hemodynamic status.METHODS: Prospective randomized, double -blinded placebo, control study, two groups of thirty patients each were selected.One group (Group C) received 150μg clonidine tablets and the other group (Group B) received placebo, 90 minutes before anesthesia.Primary outcome were sedation, onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade.Hemodynamic and other effects of the study drug were the secondary outcomes.RESULT: It was observed that clonidine premedication resulted in higher incidence of moderate sedation, hastens the onset of sensory block but has no effect on the onset of motor blockade.It prolonged the duration of sensory and motor blockade.Clonidine at a dose of 150μg is not associated with any greater change in heart rate and blood pressure following spinal anesthesia.CONCLUSION: We conclude that oral clonidine premedication,in patients with hyperbaric bupivacaine hastesns the onset of sensory block and prolongs the duration of sensory and motor anesthesia with moderate sedation.