COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF TRAMADOL AND FENTANYL FOR EPIDURAL ANALGESIA IN LOWER LIMB SURGERIES

Background:Epiduralandspinalblocksaremajorregionaltechniques with along history of effectiveuseforavarietyofsurgicalprocedures and pain relief. Epidural block with the catheter technique gives a better control of the level of analgesia and can be used for providingpost-operativepainreliefbyopioidsorlocalanaestheticagents.The purposeofthepresentstudywastocomparethe safetyandefficacyofepiduraltramadolversusepiduralfentanylas adjuvantstobupivacaineforlowerlimbsurgeries. Materials and methods:100 patients werer an domisedin to two groups with50 patient sineach group: Group BB-epidural administration of 20mL 0.5% plain bupivacaine with [50 mg (1 mL) tramadol + 1 mL NS= 2 mL].Group BF- epidural administration of 20 mL 0.5% plain bupivacainewith100mcg(2mL)of fentanyl.Settings and Design- Randomised double-blind trial. Results:The mean onset of sensory blockade and time for maximum sensory blockade was observed to be significantly reduced with the addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine as compared to tramadol and bupivacaine. The results showed statistically significant increase in the duration of analgesia with the addition of fentanyl to bupivacaine as compared to tramadol and bupivacaine. Conclusion:We can conclude that tramadol and fentanyl were effective adjuvants to bupivacaine when used epidurally in patients undergoing lower limb surgery. Although, epidural fentanyl with bupivacaine produces significantly faster onset of sensory blockadecompared to epiduralhowever,epiduraltramadolwithbupivacaineproducessignificantlyprolonged durationofanalgesiacomparedtoepiduralfentanyl.