Comparison of Intrathecal Bupivacaine with Additives Buprenorphine Versus Bupivacaine  with Dexmedetamidine for Postoperative Analgesia in Lower Limb Surgeries

Objective: This study compared intrathecal bupivacaine with additive buprenorphine versus bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine in lower limb surgery Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Anesthesia, DHQ Teaching Hospital Gujranwala from for 12 months from 30-09-2021 to 29-092022. Methods: After taking informed consent and demographic detail 60 patients were1enrolled. Patients were divided randomly into 021groups.1Group 1, patients were given 60μg of buprenorphine with 2cc (15mg) of 0.75 % heavy bupivacaine. Group 2, patients were given 5μg of dexmedetomidine with 2cc (15mg) of 0.75 % heavy bupivacaine. The duration between start of spinal anaesthesia till the first dose of rescue analgesia recorded as duration of analgesia. Results: From buprenorphine group the mean duration of analgesia of the patients was 234.67±131minutes whereas in group dexmedetomidine the mean duration of1analgesia of the patients was 275.17±29.77 minutes (p value=<0.001). From buprenorphine, VAS score was 3.87±0.63 while with dexmedetomidine group VAS score was 3.90±0.66 (p =0.842). From buprenorphine group the mean rescue analgesia was 4.40±0.56 mg while from dexmedetomidine group the mean rescue analgesia was 4.33±0.55 mg (p-value=0.644). Conclusion: These findings suggest that while dexmedetomidine may provide prolonged analgesia, both adjuvants effectively manage postoperative pain, offering viable options for spinal anesthesia in lower limb procedures.