Original article / research
Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant in Subarachnoid Block versus Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy under Spinal Anaesthesia: A Double-blinded Randomised Clinical Study
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Rachana S Kori,
Flat No. 203, Shreyas Block, SDM Medical Staff Quarters, Ratnashree Vihar, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: rachana.kori@gmail.com
Introduction: Postoperative pain continues to be a major concern in patients undergoing abdominal surgeries despite advances in regional anaesthesia. Dexmedetomidine is found to have analgesic properties, hence used as an adjuvant for enhancing postoperative analgesia in both central neuraxial and peripheral nerve block.
Aim: To compare the efficacy of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant in subarachnoid block versus Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block in patients posted for total abdominal hysterectomy under spinal anaesthesia.
Materials and Methods: This double-blinded randomised clinical study was conducted at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. A total of 70 patients undergoing elective total abdominal hysterectomy under subarachnoid and TAP block. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups (n=35 each). Patients were administered intrathecal 2.8 mL of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. At the end of surgery, an ultrasound-guided bilateral TAP block was administered using 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine on each side (total volume made up to 22 mL). Group SD (Spinal Dexmedetomidine group) received 5 μg (0.05 mL) of dexmedetomidine intrathecally and Group TD (TAP Dexmedetomidine group) received 25 μg dexmedetomidine in TAP block. Haemodynamic parameters, postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain score, time to first rescue analgesia, total rescue analgesic consumption in 24 hours, and sedation scores were noted. Data were analysed using an independent samples t-test and a Chi-square test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Demographic parameters were comparable between the groups (age, weight, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) status). Postoperative VAS scores at 0 hour were significantly lower in Group SD (0.8±1.5) compared to Group TD (1.9±2.1) (p-value <0.05). The time to first rescue analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group SD (396.0±200.7 minutes) compared to Group TD (195.4±92.4 minutes) (p-value <0.001). The total postoperative rescue analgesic requirement within 24 hours was significantly lower in Group SD (144.3±45 mg) compared to Group TD (182.9±45.3 mg) (p-value=0.001) haemodynamic parameters remained stable in both groups.
Conclusion: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to spinal anaesthesia provides superior early postoperative analgesia, prolonged duration of analgesia, and reduced postoperative analgesic requirement compared to dexmedetomidine administered in TAP block. Both techniques maintained satisfactory haemodynamic stability with minimal adverse effects.
Pain, Postoperative, Regional anaesthesia, Visual analogue scale
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2026/88344.24418
Date of Submission: Feb 25, 2026
Date of Peer Review: May 12, 2026
Date of Acceptance: Jun 15, 2026
Date of Publishing: Sep 01, 2026
AUTHOR DECLARATION:
• Financial or Other Competing Interests: None
• Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes
• Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes
• For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA
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ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin
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