title: Caudal clonidine for postoperative analgesia in adults.
abstract: We have assessed the analgesic efficacy and side effects of caudally administered clonidine in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. We studied 64 adult patients undergoing elective haemorrhoidectomy. Caudal block was performed in all patients using a mixture of 0.5% bupivacaine 35 mg with 2% lidocaine 140 mg and epinephrine 5 micrograms ml-1. Patients were allocated randomly to one of two groups. Clonidine 75 micrograms was added in group C and saline 1 ml in group S. Median time to first analgesic requirements was significantly longer in group C (mean 729 (SD 120) min) than in group S (276 (131) min) (P = 0.01). Bradycardia occurred in seven patients in group C but did not affect mean arterial pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Saint-Paul Medical Center, Fort-de-France, Martinique, France.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Van Elstraete
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pastureau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mehdaoui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000763:Anesthesia, Caudal / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D003000:Clonidine