2021, Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part D

Method: Total 80 adult patients of age between 18 to 55 years were enrolled and divided into two groups of 40 patients in each. Group BF received 0.5% bupivacaine for epidural block with Fentanyl 25 micro gm and Group RF received 0.75% ropivacaine for epidural block with Fentanyl 25 micro gm.

Results: Two groups were statistically similar for demographic profile and duration of surgery, (p>0.05). In both the groups, majority of patients were undergoing abdominal surgery (BF-55% vs. RF- 60%) compared to pelvic surgery (BF-45% vs. RF-40%), (p = 0.821). There was no significant difference between two groups with respect to haemodynamic parameters (HR, SBP, DBP, MAP and SpO₂) and respiratory rate at different perioperative intervals. Higher time to request first rescue analgesic in patients received ropivacaine-fentanyl (RF group), which was statistically significant. Also the duration of analgesia was longer in RF group (176.73 ± 11.13) than BF group (170.98 ± 8.60), (p = 0.012). Incidence of nausea, vomiting, hypotension and bradycardia were comparable between two groups.

Conclusion: The epidural infusion of 20 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine with fentanyl 25μg provides adequate anesthesia for lower abdominal and pelvic surgeries, also it provides longer intraoperative and postoperative analgesia with hemodynamic stability compared with bupivacaine 0.5% with fentanyl.