Indian journal of anaesthesia
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Endotracheal intubation can produce severe maternal haemodynamic changes during caesarean sections under general anaesthesia. However, administration of narcotics before endotracheal intubation to prevent these changes may affect the Apgar score in neonates. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of intravenous alfentanil on haemodynamic changes due to endotracheal intubation in elective caesarean sections performed under general anaesthesia. ⋯ Alfentanil use was associated with decreases or minimal increases in maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate after endotracheal intubation.
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Intravenous regional anaesthesia (IVRA) provides reliable and rapid analgesia with good muscular relaxation of the extremity distal to the tourniquet, but tourniquet pain and absence of post-operative analgesia are major drawbacks. α2 agonists, clonidine and dexmedetomidine are known to potentiate peripheral nerve blocks. The aim of this study was to compare clonidine and dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to IVRA with respect to block characteristics, tourniquet pain and post-operative analgesia. ⋯ Dexmedetomidine significantly facilitates onset, prolongs recovery of sensory as well as motor block and also prolongs duration of analgesia as compared to clonidine. Both decrease tourniquet pain satisfactorily and have comparable intra-operative fentanyl requirement . Patient satisfaction is better with dexmedetomidine.