COMPARISON OF EFFECT OF DEXMEDETOMIDINE INTRATHECAL INJECTION AND INTRAVENOUS INFUSION ON SUBARACHNOID BLOCKADE DURING KNEE ARTHROSCOPY PROCEDURE -A DOUBLE BLINDED RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine administered via intrathecal injection versus intravenous infusion in augmenting subarachnoid blockade during knee arthroscopy procedures.

Materials And Method: A double-blind randomized controlled trial compared dexmedetomidine administered intrathecally versus intravenously during knee arthroscopy. Sixty-four participants per group aged 18-60 years, ASA grade I and II, were recruited. Onset time, duration, and quality of blockade, along with hemodynamic stability and adverse events, were evaluated. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t test and repeated measures ANOVA were used for Statistical analysis. P-value <0.05 is considered to be statistically significance.

Results: Both groups showed similar age, BMI, and surgery duration distributions, with meniscusplasty being the most common procedure. No significant differences were found in analgesia duration, onset time, or sensory-motor blockade quality. However, the intravenous group exhibited higher sedation scores postoperatively.

Conclusion: Both intrathecal and intravenous dexmedetomidine effectively prolonged analgesia during knee arthroscopy, with comparable outcomes in key parameters. While intravenous infusion resulted in higher sedation scores, both routes demonstrated similar safety profiles. These findings contribute to optimizing perioperative pain management strategies, emphasizing the potential of dexmedetomidine as an adjunctive agent in knee arthroscopy procedures.