title: To evaluate the efficacy of intrathecal magnesium sulphate for hysterectomy under subarachnoid block with bupivacaine and fentanyl: A prospective randomized double blind clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intrathecal magnesium has been found to prolong the duration of analgesia in various surgical procedures like lower limb surgeries and as adjuncts to general anesthesia for pain management. The present study was designed to examine whether addition of intrathecal magnesium sulfate would enhance the analgesic efficacy of intrathecal bupivacaine and fentanyl in patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  After taking informed consent, 60 patients were randomised into two groups with 30 patients. Group "S" received 2.5 mL (12.5 mg) of hyperbaric bupivacaine + 0.5 mL (25 mcg) of fentanyl + 0.5 mL of normal saline and Group "M" received 2.5 mL (12.5 mg) of hyperbaric bupivacaine + 0.5 mL (25 mcg) of fentanyl + 0.5 mL (100 mg) of magnesium sulfate. Onset of sensory, motor block and duration of analgesia was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic profile and duration of surgery were comparable (P>0.5). Time of onset of sensory and motor blockade was delayed in Group M compared with Group S, and this was statistically significant. A statistically significant longer duration of analgesia was observed in Group M compared with the control Group S. However, the recovery of motor blockade was found to be statistically insignificant in both the groups. The hemodynamic parameters were comparable in the perioperative period (P>0.05). The incidence of side-effects in both the groups were also comparable (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of 100 mg intrathecal magnesium led to prolonged duration of analgesia significantly without increasing the incidence of side-effects. Also, there was a significant delay in the onset of both sensory and motor blockade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Mridu Paban
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Tapan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Talukdar
authors.forename: Dipika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.forename: Anulekha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakrabarty