European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Tramadol administered epidurally along with 0.375 % Bupivacaine in patients undergoing lower limb surgeries. Patients with absolute contra- indication for epidural block like bleeding disorders or patients on anticoagulant therapy or MAO inhibitors, with raised intra–cranial tension, infection at the site of injection, with neurological deficit and with psychiatric diseases were not included in this study. Patients who were chronic abusers of benzodiazepines and painkillers were also excluded from this study.
Result: The time required for sensory blockade to reach maximum level and then regression to L₁ level. There was no statistically significant diffrerence  between the two groups. Mean value for the onset of sensory blockade was found to be 11.55 ± 1.71 in group I and 11.35 ± 2.28 in group II. Max level of blockade achieved was usually between  T ₇ to T ₁₀ . The time required for motor blockade. There was no statistically significant diffrerence  between the two groups. None of them had any patient scoring bromage scale 2 . time of regression of motor blockade from bromage scale 1 to 0 were 141.10 ± 4.59 & 144.65 ± 2.22 in groups I & II respectively.
Conclusion: No sedative or analgesic was given as preoperative or intraoperatively. Group I. patients received  20ml of 0.375%  bupivacaine 0.5% plain + 100mg tramadol (2ml) at different intervals. Addition of tramadol to Bupivacaine epidurally proved to be efficacious for treatment of postoperative pain than analgesic effect of Bupivacaine alone.