• Paula Fialho Saraiva Salgado, Amália Tieco Sabbag, Priscila Costa da Silva, Sergio Luís Aparecido Brienze, Helio Pontes Dalto, Norma Sueli Pinheiro Módolo, José Reinaldo Cerqueira Braz, and Paulo Nascimento.
• Hospital de Base da Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, SP.
• Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2008 Mar 1;54(2):110-5.

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics of epidural anesthesia performed with 0.75% ropivacaine associated with dexmedetomidine.MethodsForty patients scheduled for hernia repair or varicose vein surgeries under epidural anesthesia participated in this study. They were assigned to: Control Group (n = 20), 0.75% ropivacaine, 20 ml (150 mg); and Dexmedetomidine Group (n = 20), 0.75% ropivacaine, 20 ml (150 mg), plus dexmedetomidine, 1 mg x kg-1. The following variables were studied: total analgesic block onset time, upper level of analgesia, analgesic and motor block duration time, intensity of motor block, state of consciousness, hemodynamics, postoperative analgesia and incidence of side-effects.ResultsEpidural dexmedetomidine did not affect onset time or upper level of anesthesia (p > 0.05) however it prolonged sensory and motor block duration time (p < 0.05) and postoperative analgesia (p < 0.05), and also resulted in a more intense motor block, l (p < 0.05). Values of bispectral index were lower in Dexmedetomidine Group (p < 0.05). There was no difference in incidence of hypotension and bradycardia (p > 0.05). Occurrence of side-effects (shivering, vomiting and SpO2 < 90%) was low and similar between groups (p > 0.05).ConclusionThere is clear synergism between epidural dexmedetomidine and ropivacaine, further this drug association does not bring about additional morbidity.

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