title: Evaluation of analgesic effects of intrathecal clonidine along with bupivacaine in cesarean section.
abstract: AIMS AND CONTEXT: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the analgesic and adverse effects of intrathecal clonidine with hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized single blind trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  210 ASA I-II pregnant females undergoing emergency cesarean section were randomized in a single-blind fashion to one of the three groups. In group I (n=70) patients received 12.5 mg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally. In group II (n=70) patients received intrathecal mixture of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (8 mg) and clonidine 50 μg. In group III (n=70), patients received 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (10 mg) intrathecally along with 50 μg of clonidine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Groups were compared using one-way ANOVA with the Bonferroni multiple comparison post hoc test. The proportion of adverse events was compared using the chi-square test (χ(2) =57.2410).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On adding 50 μg clonidine, we were able to reduce intrathecal dose of bupivacaine for cesarean section to 8 mg. Patients receiving intrathecal clonidine along with bupivacaine had significantly long lasting analgesia with lower bupivacaine dose [246.21±5.15 min. (group II) vs 146.0±4.55 min (group I), P=0.021; 95% confidence interval: 238.01-257.40, group II and 134.99-157.0 group I].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Addition of intrathecal clonidine causes some sedation in the postoperative period, but it provides adequate analgesia and motor paralysis at lower dose of bupivacaine. It also significantly prolongs postoperative pain relief.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, CSMMU (erstwhile KGMC), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kothari
authors.forename: Jaishri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogra
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chaudhary