European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: The current study compares the hemodynamic, sedative, and analgesia-potentiating effects of fentanyl and buprenorphine delivered epidurally in combination with bupivacaine.
Methods: A prospective study was performed by Department of Anaesthesia, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, India at Government General Hospital, Guntur. This study included 60 individual undergoing lower limb surgeries that were divided in two groups. Wherein group a received solution of 15 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride and 3 g/kg buprenorphine. And group B administered with solution consisting of 15 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochlori        de and 1 g/kg fentanyl.
Result: The mean time for onset of motor block in group A was 9.53±1.14 minutes and in group B it was 6.43±1.04 minutes. The mean time of onset of motor block was significantly lower in group B when compared to group A. The mean duration of return to Bromage sore 0 in group A was 230.17±12.70 mins and in group B it was 332.83±14.42 mins. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean duration of return to Bromage score 0 across the groups. The time required in group B was significantly higher when compared to group A. 
Conclusion: Buprenorphine performs better than fentanyl when administered epidurally in terms of providing effective long-term postoperative analgesia. For preoperative analgesia, buprenorphine, fentanyl, and 0.5% bupivacaine can be injected epidurally in a single dose.