Abstract

Introduction: Spinal anaesthesia using hyperbaric bupivacaine with adjuvants such as
clonidine is now the routine and preferred technique for majority of the surgical cases.
Aim: to compare various block characteristics alongwith materno-fetal outcome in
patients scheduled for caesarean section under subarachnoid block (SAB), following
administration of hyperbaric bupivacaine alone and in combination with clonidine
intrathecally.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 90 patients undergoing elective cesarean
section were randomly allocated to two groups. The patients of Group A received
intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine (10 mg) + 0.2 mL of normal saline and Group
B received intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine (10 mg) + 0.2 mL of clonidine (30
μg). Various block characteristics and materno-fetal outcome were compared between
the groups.
Results: Group B had quicker sensory onset (3.17 ± 1.05 min vs. 3.50 ± 0.94 min), longer
duration of sensory and motor block (209.73 ± 30.70 min and 147.50 ± 23.00 min),
longer time for rescue analgesia demand (298.83 ± 44.68 min) in comparison to Group
A.
Conclusion: Intrathecal clonidine provided better block characteristics and outcome
measures in terms of prolonged sensory as well as motor blockade, longer duration of
analgesia, greater intraoperative relaxation and minimal or no adverse incidences.