COMPARISON AND EVALUATION OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN RELIEF WITH EPIDURAL TRAMADOL VS EPIDURAL BUPRENORPHINE FOR LOWERLIMB ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERIES PERFORMED UNDER COMBINED SPINAL EPIDURAL ANAESTHESIA.

Abstract

Pain is a subjective phenomenon. Postoperative pain is becoming a major concern because it gives rise to various physiological and psychological phenomenon. Hence, effective pain control is vital for early mobilization and postoperative discharge. The present study is to evaluate the efficacy and complications of Epidural Tramadol and Buprenorphine in relieving the post-operative pain in orthopedic surgeries where intense analgesia is required.

Methods :-Patients were randomly allocated to one of the 2 groups of 30 each , with a total sample size of 60 .GROUP A :-Epidural tramadol hydrochloride 2mg/kg diluted in normal saline GROUP B :- Epidural buprenorphine 3mcg/kg diluted in normal saline .inclusion criteria:-ASA 1 & 2 patients posted for lower limb surgeries .Age group between 30-60 years . Exclusion criteria :-Patients having history of convulsions , meningitis , and any neurological disorder .Patients having history of respiratory disorders like COPD, Asthma, history of hypertension , ischemic heart disease, patients of ASA 3 or more, patients having history of generalized septicemia ,platelet and clotting factor abnormalities, history of drug abuse. Parameters to be observed :- Onset of analgesia, duration of analgesia with both drugs, side effects observed with each of the drug ,hemodynamic changes with each drug.

Results:- The onset of analgesia is faster with epidural tramadol , whereas the duration of analgesia is longer and quality of analgesia is better with epidural buprenorphine and there are minimal side effects which are more observed with epidural buprenorphine.

Conclusion- epidural buprenorphine is a better drug for post- operative analgesia than epidural tramadol.