Introduction: Clonidine increases the effects of anaesthesia and possesses antihypertensive qualities. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, pneumoperitoneum is created by inflating Carbon Dioxide (CO2), which stimulates autonomic pathways, resulting in catecholamine release, activation of the reninangiotensin system and vasopressin release. Clonidine may be an ideal agent for controlling the stress response to pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery. Aim: To observe the clinical efficacy of two different dosages of oral clonidine premedication on the induction dose of propofol and changes in perioperative haemodynamic parameters in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: This randomised, double-blinded study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences (UPUMS), Saifai, Etawah, India, from January 2019 to December 2020. The study examined 60 patients with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grades I and II who were scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia. One hour before induction, the patients were randomly assigned to three groups for premedication: Group A (n=20) received a placebo, group B (n=20) received 150 mu g of oral clonidine and group C (n=20) received 300 mu g of oral clonidine. The patients were managed with standard general anaesthesia. Haemodynamic parameters and the propofol induction dose of the three groups were compared using an unpaired t-test and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA); a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 60 patients were included in the study, with 20 patients in group A (Placebo), 20 in group B (150 mu g oral clonidine) and 20 in group C (300 mu g oral clonidine). When comparing the two different dosages of oral clonidine (150 mu g vs 300 mu g), it was found that the higher dose (300 mu g) was more effective in attenuating the pressure responses to laryngoscopy, intubation, pneumoperitoneum and extubation. In comparing the clonidine groups, group C (1.42 +/- 0.14 mg/kg) and group B (1.61 +/- 0.02 mg/kg) both exhibited a substantial reduction in the induction dose of propofol compared to the placebo group A (1.84 +/- 0.13 mg/kg). Conclusion: Throughout the perioperative periods, the clonidine groups (C > B) maintained haemodynamic variables better than the placebo group (A) and the clonidine groups also experienced a significant reduction in the induction dose of propofol. In comparing the two dosages of oral clonidine, it was found that the higher dose (group C) was superior in attenuating the pressure response to laryngoscopy, intubation, pneumoperitoneum and extubation.
