European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of intrathecal vs. intravenous dexmedetomidine on the duration of sensory and motor blockage and analgesia in patients having lower limb procedures while under bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia. Methods: This was a hospital based prospective comparative randomized study conducted among 90 patients who were scheduled to undergo lower limb surgeries under sub-arachnoid block at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital and Research Centre, Bangalore, from February 2021 to September 2022 after obtaining clearance from the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent from the study participants. Results: The mean time for onset of sensory blockade was 1.24 ± 0.44 min and motor block was 1.38 ± 0.39 min in group IT, 1.40 ± 0.54 min and 1.49 ± 0.51 min respectively in group IV. The onset of motor blockade was significantly faster in the intrathecal group compared to the intravenous group (p < 0.001). The mean duration of sensory blockade was 295.11 ± 38.88 min in group IT and 251.78 ± 46.19 min in group IV. The mean duration of the motor block was 307.78 ± 30.74 min in group IT and 263.11 ± 47.62 min in group IV. The duration of sensory and motor blocks was significantly higher in the intrathecal group when compared to the intravenous group (p<0.001). The mean duration of analgesia was significantly longer in group IV (p<0.001). Conclusion: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine is a better alternative to intravenous dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally, as it provides good quality intraoperative and post-operative analgesia under stable hemodynamic conditions with minimal adverse effects.