Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Epidural anesthesia is the most commonly used technique for inducing surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia in lower abdominal and limb surgeries.The present study compared fentanyl and dexmedetomidine for epidural analgesia in lower limb orthopedic surgeries. Materials & Methods: 84 patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologist (ASA) physical status I and II who underwent lower limb orthopedic surgery of both genderswere divided into two groups of 42 each. Group I patients received Ropivacaine + Fentanyl (RF) and group II received Ropivacaine + Dexmedetomidine (RD). Parameters such as time to onset of analgesia at T10, maximum sensory analgesic level, time to complete motor blockade, time to two segmental dermatomal regressions, and time to first rescue analgesic was recorded. Results: The mean duration of surgery (min)was 126.5 in group I and 102.6 in group II. Sensory block at T10 was 9.2 minutes in group I and in group II was 7.2 minutes. The mean time for maximum sensory block level (min) was 16.6 in group I and 13.2 minutes in group II. Complete motor block (min) was 21.1 in group I and 18.4 in group II. The mean dose of mephenteramine requirement was 8.6 mg in group I and 11.5 mg in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is better alternative as an epidural adjuvant as it provides comparable stable hemodynamics as compared to fentanyl.