Background: Spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine is administered routinely for lower abdominal and lower limb surgeries. The ensuing nerve block is sufficient to ensure patient’s wellbeing, while motor block facilitates the surgeon’s work. Post-operative pain relief can be achieved by various methods namely systemic opioid and non-opioid peripheral nerve blocks and local wound infiltration, each with their own merits and demerits. the present study was undertaken to compare the effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine and clonidine as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine in patients undergoing surgery for fracture femur and tibia.Methods: 80 patients between 20-60 years, undergoing elective surgery for closed fracture shaft of femur and tibia with ASA physical status of 1 and 2 were included in the study. All the subjects were randomly allocated to one of the two groups (Group C and Group D) by a computer-generated randomization chart. Group C received 2.5ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 50mcg clonidine and group D received 2.5ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 5mcg dexmedetomidine.Results: 30 of the 40 patients in group C were of ASA I and 10 were ASA II, while in group D, 25 were ASA I and 15 were ASA II. A significant difference was found in the onset time for sensory and motor block, receding time for sensory and motor block and the need of the first rescue analgesia between the two groups, showing that Dexmedetomidine was more potent than clonidine.Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine is a potent, highly selective and specific α2-adrenoreceptor agonist that has both sedative and analgesic effects and is also a valuable adjuvant when regional anaesthesia is incorporated.

INTRODUCTIONPain is an unpleasant effect associated with significant psychological and physiological changes during surgery and post-operative period. Regional anaesthetic techniques have specific advantages either for standalone anaesthesia or as analgesic supplements for intraoperative and postoperative care. Brachial plexus block is often used either as an adjuvant to general anesthesia (GA) or as a sole anesthesia modality. Brachial plexus blockade for ambulatory upper-limb surgery can significantly reduce pain and nausea, allowing for faster discharge. Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is preferred for its rapid onset, reliable anesthesia and as a safe technique for any surgery in the upper extremity that does not involve the shoulder. This is mainly because it is a highly effective analgesia ABSTRACT Background: Brachial plexus block is often used either as an adjuvant to general anesthesia (GA) or as a sole anesthesia modality. Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is preferred for its rapid onset, reliable anesthesia and as a safe technique for any surgery in the upper extremity that does not involve the shoulder. We have attempted to undertake this study to compare the haemodynamic, sensory and motor effects of the anaesthetic effect of Ropivacaine alone and Ropivacaine along with Dexamethasone in Supraclavicular Brachial Block in upper limb surgery. Methods: The total duration of surgery was also comparable in both groups. The onset of the sensory and the motor block in bother the groups were similar to each other with no statistical difference, but there was a very high significance in the duration of both sensory and motor block within both the groups. Results: The total duration of surgery was also comparable in both groups. The onset of the sensory and the motor block in bother the groups were similar to each other with no statistical difference, but there was a very high significance in the duration of both sensory and motor block within both the groups. Conclusions: Dexamethasone added to ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial block for upper limb surgery significantly shortens the onset time and prolongs the duration of sensory and motor blocks without producing sedation in patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The efficacy of a topical anaesthetic formulation, EMLA 5% cream (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics) in obtunding the pain produced by intravenous cannulation was determined in our study. This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of EMLA cream in producing dermal analgesia for venous cannulation and the effect of timing of application of EMLA cream prior to cannulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Amongst 60 patients, EMLA cream was applied for 60 minutes in 20 patients, 30 minutes in another 20 and in the remaining 20 no cream or placebo was applied. RESULTS Pain was assessed in all the groups by a 4-point rank score. It was found that patients with EMLA cream had lower pain scores and decreased haemodynamic stress response to venous cannulation when compared to the control group. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION Maximum analgesia was observed in patients who had EMLA cream applied for 60 minutes. No significant side effects were seen with this formulation.

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Magnesium has antinociceptive effects in animal and human models of pain. It is found that the addition of Magnesium sulphate to postoperative Epidural infusion of Fentanyl may decrease the need for Fentanyl. We undertook a study to compare the duration of postoperative analgesia after Epidural Fentanyl and Epidural Fentanyl plus Magnesium sulphate administered postoperatively, along with side effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS 50 patients undergoing elective lower limb and abdominal surgeries were randomized into one of the two groups with 25 patients in each group. Combined Spinal Epidural Anaesthesia was used for all patients. Spinal anaesthesia with 2.5 cc of 0.5% Hyperbaric Bupivacaine was given. When sensory blockade regressed to L1, patients were given either 50 µg of Fentanyl (diluted to 6cc with normal saline, Group F) or 50 µg of Fentanyl plus 50 mg Magnesium sulphate (diluted to 6cc with normal saline, Group FM). Parameters like blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were monitored, and other side effects were noted. Data were analysed by using Student t test and Chi-square/ Fisher Exact tests. RESULTS There was significant difference in duration of analgesia between Group F (107 min) and Group FM (143 min). Hemodynamic parameters were stable in both the groups with minimal side effects. CONCLUSION Co-administration of Magnesium sulphate with Fentanyl for postoperative Epidural analgesia results in prolongation of Fentanyl analgesia without significant side-effects.