COMPARATIVE EVALUTION OF CLONIDINE WITH LIGNOCAINE VERSUS DEXMEDETOMIDINE WITH LIGNOCAINE IN BIER'S BLOCK

Present study was conducted to compare the effects of adding clonidine vs dexmedetomidine to lignocaine in Bier's block. It was prospective randomised double-blinded. 40 patients of ASA I or II posted for upper limb surgery under Bier's block were included. Bier's block was given with lignocaine with either dexmedetomidine 1 mu g/kg or clonidine 1 mu g/kg. There was no significant difference between the two groups in onset or regression of sensory and motor blockades. There was a significant decrease in number of patients requiring analgesia and its consumed amount in the Dexmedetomidine group (0% and 0 mu g, respectively) as compared to the Clonidine group (40% and 27 +/- 43 mu g, respectively) intraoperatively. There was a decrease in number of patients requiring analgesia and its consumed amount in Dexmedetomidine group (5% and 2.5 +/- 11 mu g, respectively) compared to the Clonidine group (35% and 32 +/- 24.5 mu g, respectively) post-operatively. The quality of anaesthesia was significantly better in Dexmedetomidine group than to Clonidine group. Patients were more sedated in the Dexmedetomidine group for brief post-operative period. This study concludes, adding dexmedetomidine to lignocaine in Bier's block is more beneficial than adding clonidine.