Abstract

Background
Hyperbaric bupivacaine alone or in combination with various adjuvants is the most commonly used local anaesthetic drugs for spinal anaesthesia. Opioids are frequently used adjuvants due to its rapid onset and intense block characteristics. Fentanyl is the preferred intrathecal opioids with rapid onset of action but having limitation of shorter duration of action. Buprenorphine is a mixed agonist-antagonist with high affinity at both mu and kappa opioid receptors. So, we plan to compare intrathecal administration of buprenorphine and fentanyl with hyperbaric bupivacaine in gynaecological surgeries.
Methodology
After Institutional Ethical Approval and written informed consent, 60 patients aged 18–65 years, scheduled for lower abdominal gynaecological surgery were divided into two equal groups- Group F to receive 2.5 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine along with 25 mcg fentanyl intrathecally and Group B to receive 2.5 ml of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with 75 mcg buprenorphine intrathecally. Block characteristics and associated side effects were compared between two groups. The data was analysed using Chi square test and Fisher’s exact test. For comparing two group of mean, independent student’s t test was used. P-value

Key words: Buprenorphine, Bupivacaine, Fentanyl, Spinal anaesthesia,