Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Unilateral spinal anesthesia occurs when a local anesthetic is injected into the intrathecal space because it selectively blocks the nerve fibers supplying the operative side. The present study was conducted to evaluate the role of nalbuphine and fentanyl as adjuvants to bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia in lower limb orthopedic surgery patients. Materials & Methods: 84 patients scheduled for lower limborthopedic surgeries of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) status I and II of both genderswere divided into 2 groups of 42 each. Group I received 1.4 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine heavy + 0.4 ml of nalbuphine (0.8 mg) and group II received 1.4 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine heavy with 20µg of fentanyl. Parameters such as duration of surgery (mins), sensory onset (T12) (mins), TT10 (mins), Tpeakmotor (mins), duration of motor block (III) (mins), time to regression to L2 (mins), duration of analgesia (mins) etc. were recorded. Results: Group I comprised 22 males and 20 females and group II 23 males and 19 females. ASA grade I was seen in 18 in group I and 20 in group II and grade II was seen in 24 in group and 22 in group II. The difference was non-significant (P> 0.05). Sensory onset (T12) was 2.76 minutes in group I and 2.96 minutes in group II, TT10 was 4.35 minutes in group I and 4.80 minutes in group II, TPeak motor was 5.32 minutes in group I and 5.90 minutes in group II, duration of motor block (III) (mins) were 128.3 and 125.4, time to regression to L2 (mins) was 172.3 and 180.2, duration of analgesia was 251.4 minutes and 262.7 minutes in group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Nalbuphine is a readily available drug that can be used as an adjuvant in unilateral spinal anesthesia in place of fentanyl.