ASSESMENT OF DURATION OF ANALGESIA BY COMPARING INTRATHECAL BUPIVACAINE WITH KETAMINE AND HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE FOR CAESAREAN SECTION PATIENTS

Single dose perioperative intrathecal ketamine as an adjuvant to intrathecal bupivacaine: A systematic review and meta-analysis of adult human randomized controlled trials

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To identify whether adding intrathecal ketamine to intrathecal bupivacaine prolongs the time to first analgesic request in adult humans.

DESIGN

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in humans.

SETTING

The majority of data was obtained in an operating room and postoperative recovery area.

PATIENTS

A total of 750 ASA physical status I and II patients were included in the study. Procedures performed include: cesarean section, lower abdominal surgery, lower limb surgery, and urologic surgery.

INTERVENTIONS

Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane were searched. Google Scholar was also queried. Multiple reviewers screened the papers for inclusion.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome assessed was time to first analgesic request. Secondary outcomes included onset of sensory blockade, onset of motor blockade, duration of sensory blockade, and duration of motor blockade. Data were extracted to include means, 95% confidence intervals, tests for heterogeneity, and use of the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines to assess for publication bias.

MAIN RESULTS

Eleven randomized controlled trials met inclusion criteria. When comparing intrathecal bupivacaine plus ketamine to intrathecal bupivacaine alone, the time to first analgesic request was prolonged (effect size = 58.23 min (95% CI 37.36 to 79.10) p < 0.0001). Secondary outcomes showed the onset time of sensory blockade was shortened (effect size = -0.87 min (95% CI -1.361 to 0.378) p = 0.0005), the onset time of motor blockade was reduced (effect size = -0.88 min (95% CI -1.77 to 0.013) p = 0.05), the duration of sensory blockade was prolonged (effect size = 39.73 min (95% CI 15.97 to 63.50) p = 0.001), and the duration of motor blockade was prolonged (effect size = 4.02 min (95% CI 3.27 to 4.78) p < 0.0001). Studies were shown to have high heterogeneity. Egger tests for all outcomes were non-significant and funnel plots assessing publication bias were all asymmetrical.

CONCLUSIONS

The studies analyzed suggest there may be a benefit to using intrathecal ketamine as an adjunct to bupivacaine. Additional studies are warranted to optimize dosing, clarify the safety and efficacy of this intrathecal drug combination, and examine the various ketamine formulations as intrathecal bupivacaine adjuvants.

A comparative study of analgesic efficacy of intrathecal bupivacaine with ketamine versus bupivacaine with magnesium sulphate in parturients undergoing elective caesarian sections

Background and Aims:

Spinal anaesthesia is the most preferred technique of anaesthesia in parturient, undergoing lower segment caesarean sections (LSCS) which provides effective pain relief during intra operative and early postoperative period. However, recent studies demonstrate that about 50%–70% of patients experience moderate to severe pain after LSCS indicating that postoperative pain remains poorly managed. The aim of our study was to compare intrathecal magnesium sulphate (Mgso4) and ketamine as adjuvants to hyperbaric bupivacaine in parturients posted for elective caesarean sections under spinal anaesthesia to determine their effectiveness in extending the duration of analgesia

Materials and Methods:

After institutional ethical committee approval, 82 parturient undergoing elective LSCS were enrolled into the prospective randomized double blinded study. Group BK (n = 41) received intrathecal ketamine (25 mg) as additive to hyperbaric bupivacaine and group BM (n = 41) received magnesium sulphate (75 mg) as additive to hyperbaric bupivacaine. Time of onset of sensory analgesia, motor blockade, duration of analgesia was noted down. Intraoperative hemodynamics and any adverse effects of study drugs were noted.

Results:

The mean duration of analgesia in group BK was significantly longer (P < 0.05) than in Group BM. The onset of sensory and motor blockade was significantly early in Group BK compared to Group BM. Hemodynamics was better maintained in Group BK with less requirement of ephedrine compared to Group BM. The visual analog scale scores were significantly lower without side effects in both the groups.

Conclusion:

The present study demonstrated that the duration, quality of analgesia, hemodynamic stability was better with intra thecal ketamine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine compared to intrathecal MgSo4 without any significant side effects on mother and child.