A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LEVOBUPIVACAINE WITH CLONIDINE AND LEVOBUPIVACAINE WITH DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN THORACIC EPIDURAL BLOCK FOR LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has traditionally been performed under general anaesthesia, regional anaesthetic techniques like spinal and epidural anaesthesia has emerged as a more suitable alternative for the minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We conducted a clinical study comparing levobupivacaine with clonidine and a combination of levobupivacaine with dexmedetomidine in thoracic epidural anaesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy as sole anaesthetic. MATERIAL AND METHODS After taking approval from Institutional Ethical Committee, 100 adult patients of ASA grade I and II were divided into two groups; Group 1 where levobupivacaine 0.5% (2mg/kg) with 1.5 mu g/kg clonidine was given and in Group 2 levobupivacaine 0.5% (2mg/kg) with 0.5 mu g/kg of dexmedetomidine. Thoracic epidural was given at the T-10-T-11 interspace to obtain a sensory block of T-4-L-2 dermatome, which was judged every minute by pinprick method till complete sensory block was established. Hemodynamic parameters like heart rate, non-invasive blood pressure, electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation were monitored and readings were recorded initially then at every 5 mins after administration of drug intraoperatively. RESULT Duration of block was longer in group 2 patients, onset of block was comparable in both the groups. Also fall in blood pressure and heart rate was greater in group 2 patients. Less incidence of shoulder pain was found in group 2 patients. Oxygen saturation (Spo(2)) was comparable in both the groups and no respiratory distress was seen. More post-operative analgesia was required in group 1. Also no complications were seen postoperatively in both the groups. CONCLUSION Levobupivacaine with dexmedetomidine provides better anaesthesia than levobupivacaine with clonidine in thoracic epidural for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.