A Randomized Control Trial to Compare the Onset and Duration of Sensory and Motor Blockade with Intrathecal Isobaric Ropivacaine versus Isobaric Ropivacaine-Clonidine for Infraumbilical Surgeries

To investigate the onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade in isobaric 0.75% Ropivacaine and isobaric 0.75% Ropivacaine - Clonidine in patients undergoing infra umbilical surgeries.= One year double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

A total of 70 patients undergoing infra umbilical surgeries were allocated into two groups namely, Group I (n=35; Patients received 3 ml of isobaric 0.75 % ropivacaine intrathecally) or Group II (n=35; Patients received 3 ml of isobaric 0.75 % ropivacaine + 15 mcg of clonidine intrathecally). Onset and duration of Sensory and motor block and hemodynamic parameters were noted and compared.

The demographic parameters were comparable in both groups. The onset of sensory block was similar in both groups but the duration of sensory block was prolonged in group II (191.7±19.21 minutes) than in group I (180.8 ±13.08 minutes). The motor block onset was faster in group II (11.4±2.29 minutes) than in group I (13.6±2.29 minutes). Duration of motor block was prolonged in group II (271.3±18.32 minutes) than in group I (224.5±16.46 minutes).

The addition of clonidine to 0.75 % isobaric ropivacaine intrathecally prolonged the duration of sensory and motor block but with no effect on the sensory onset but the faster onset of the motor block with no significant hemodynamic changes.