A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN 0.5% HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE AND 0.5% HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE WITH 25 mcg FENTANYL IN SPINAL ANAESTHESIA IN OBSTETRIC PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTIVE LSCS

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. A. V. Abhinav,
FMMC Hostel,
Father Muller Medical College,
Kankanady, Mangalore.
E-mail:dr.viper86@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: Neuraxial administration of opioids along with local anesthetics improve the quality of intraoperative analgesia and also provides postoperative pain relief for longer duration. The present study was conducted to study and compare the effects of bupivacaine alone and its combination with fentanyl used intrathecallyin obstetric patients posted for elective LSCS. 50 ASA grade I and II patients were selected and divided into 2 groups as Group (I)-Bupivacaine and Group (II):  Bupivacaine- Fentanyl group. Haemodynamic variables like systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate were recorded every 3 minutes up to delivery of baby and then every 5 minutes until end of surgery. Sensory block and motor block along with side effects were recorded. Pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale and neonatal outcome assessed using APGAR scoring. The highest sensory level achieved in bupivacaine-fentanyl group was higher than in the group receiving plain bupivacaine. The time taken for sensory regression to T12 and duration of analgesia was longer in the Bupivacaine-Fentanyl group. We conclude the combination group prolongs the duration of sensory spinal block, increases the duration of analgesia without increasing the duration of motor block, does not cause any significant side effects and provides stable haemodynamic conditions without fetal or maternal compromise.

KEYWORDS: Spinal Anaesthesia, bupivacaine, fentanyl, pregnancy.