A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF 0.5% BUPIVACAINE HEAVY VERSUS 0.5% BUPIVACAINE HEAVY PLUS DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN SPINAL ANESTHESIA FOR INFRAUMBILICAL SURGERIES: A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED STUDY

Background: Ensuring appropriate intraoperative anesthesia and postoperative pain management for infraumbilical surgery remains a signicant challenge. However, the use of adjuvants such as dexmedetomidine in spinal anesthesia has been shown to extend the duration of pain relief in the postoperative period. Recent studies have demonstrated substantial improvements in postoperative pain management and stable intraoperative conditions when dexmedetomidine is used as an adjuvant in spinal anesthesia. To assess the efcacy of adding dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine heavy in spinal block compared to using plain bupivacaine heavy in patients undergoing infraumbilical surgeries, a prospective, randomized study was conducted. Sixty patients scheduled for infraumbilical surgeries were randomly assigned to two Methods: groups: one group received dexmedetomidine along with 0.5% bupivacaine heavy, and the other group received plain 0.5% bupivacaine heavy in equal volume. The Results: beginning of sensory blockade in Group C occurred at (151.66 ± 15.33 seconds) and in Group D at (128.66 ± 11.36 seconds), with a statistically signicant difference (p < 0.001). In Group C, the peak sensory block was reached at (9.41 ± 0.56) and in Group D at (7.33 ± 0.73). The highest dermatomal sensory level observed in Group C was (6.8 ± 1.09 minutes) and in Group D was (5.96 ± 0.67). The onset of motor block in Group C was at (178 ± 16.48 seconds) and in Group D and (140 ± 13.89 minutes). Complete motor block was achieved in Group C at (8.6 ± 0.57 minutes) and in Group D at (6.67 ± 0.63 minutes) (p < 0.001). The regression of sensory block to two segments in Group C was (92.83 ± 8.37 minutes) and in Group D (146.83 ± 9.14 minutes) with p < 0.001). The regression to T12 in Group C was (139.5 ± 13.60) and in Group D at (208.116 ± 16.21). Complete recovery of motor block was observed in Group C (179.16 ± 14.62) and Group D (265.66 ± 19.24). The total duration of analgesia in Group C was (187.5 ± 15.07 minutes) and in Group D was (301 ± 25.77 minutes). Group D exhibited a r Conclusion: apid onset of sensory and motor block, and the duration of the motor and sensory block was signicantly longer than in Group C. The total analgesia duration in Group D was also longer. Moreover, adding dexmedetomidine to spinal anesthesia provided better surgical conditions and analgesia compared to plain bupivacaine.