Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Fentanyl has been used as an adjunct to bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia for elective caesarean section. The present study was conducted to compare the effect of intrathecal fentanyl with hyperbaric bupivacaine on the quality of subarachnoid blockade (SAB) in cesarean section (CS). Materials & Methods: 60 patients with ASA physical status grade I, scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly divided into two groups. Group I was given 2 ml (10 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine plus 0.5 ml (25 µg ) of fentanyl intrathecally and group II was given 2ml (10 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric Bupivacaine plus 0.5ml NS intrathecally. Parameters such as onset of sensory analgesia (min), time for maximum cephalic spread (min), maximum analgesic block (segment), onset of motor block (min), time for complete motor block (min), time for two segment regression (min) and mean duration of analgesia (min) was recorded. Results: Onset of sensory analgesia was 2.23 minutes in group I and 2.25 minutes in group II. Time for maximum cephalic spread was 12.4 minutes in group I and 11.8 minutes in group II. Onset of motor block was 3.51 minutes in group I and 3.57 minutes in group II. Time for complete motor block was 6.2 minutes in group I and 7.24 minutes in group II. Time for two segment regression was 89.8 minutes in group I and 125.1 minutes in group II. Mean duration of analgesia was 194.1 minutes in group I and 204.2 minutes in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Addition of fentanyl to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine for sub arachnoid blockage improved the quality of SAB in Cesarean section and markedly improves the quality of intraoperative analgesia.