title: Epidural labour analgesia using Bupivacaine and Clonidine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To compare the effects of addition of Clonidine (60 μg) to Epidural Bupivacaine (0.125%) for labour analgesia, with regard to duration of analgesia, duration of labour, ambulation, incidence of instrumentation and caesarean section, foetal outcome, patient satisfaction and side effects. PATIENTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026;
  
  
  METHODS
  On demand, epidural labour analgesia was given to 50 nulliparous healthy term parturients (cephalic presentation), divided in two groups randomly. Group I received bupivacaine (0.125%) alone, whereas Group II received bupivacaine (0.125%) along with Clonidine (60 μg). 10 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine was injected as first dose and further doses titrated with patient relief (Numerical Rating Scale <3). Top ups were given whenever Numerical Rating Scale went above 5.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was statistically significant prolongation of duration of analgesia in Group II, with no difference in duration of labour, ambulation, incidence of instrumentation and caesarean section or foetal outcome. Also clonidine gave dose sparing effect to bupivacaine and there was better patient satisfaction without any significant side effects in Group II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clonidine is a useful adjunct to bupivacaine for epidural labour analgesia and can be considered as alternative to opioids.
authors.affiliation: Senior Residents, Department of Anaesthesia, IGMC, Shimla (H.P.).
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Syal
authors.forename: Rk
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dogra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goel