European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: Ropivacaine, a newer long acting amide local anaesthetic and it has lesser side effects compared to Bupivacaine and is increasingly replacing Bupivacaine because of its similar analgesic profile and lesser cardiotoxicity. Tramadol hydrochloride is a weak centrally acting analgesic commonly used as adjuvant with local anaesthetic agents in epidural analgesia. Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic changes of 0.125% Bupivacaine with that of 0.125% Ropivacaine along with tramadol in patients undergoing intra abdominal surgery for post-operative analgesia. Material and Methods: Total 60 patients were taken scheduled for intra operative surgery ranging from 18-55 years in ASA grade I and II. They were randomly allocated to two groups of 30 each. Group R (n = 30) received an Epidural loading dose of 10ml 0.125% of Ropivacaine with 50mg tramadol. Group B (n =30) received an Epidural loading dose of 10ml 0.125% Bupivacaine with 50mg tramadol. Patients were assessed post-operatively every 15 min for heart rate, blood pressure, SPO2 for first hour and then after every 30 min till patient complained of pain. Result: Hemodynamically, patients in both the groups, were equally stable. Group-R (412 ± 46.56 min) was having much longer duration of post-operative analgesia as compared to Group-B (348 ± 48.31 min, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine shows a similar hemodynamic profile. Thus, Ropivacaine can be used as an alternative to Bupivacaine for postoperative pain relief through the epidural route in patients undergoing intra abdominal surgeries ,as a safe and effective agent