Comparative study between dexmedetomidine and fentanyl as adjuvants to bupivacaine for postoperative epidural analgesia in abdominal surgeries: A randomized controlled trial

Figures & data

Table 1. Comparison between groups regarding demographic data and operation duration.

Demographic data		Group C	Group D	Group F	F/X^2	P-value
Age (years)		47.72 ± 13.9	47.84 ± 12.9	49.44 ± 13.6	0.13^f	0.88
BMI (kg/m^2)		27 ± 6.0	27.48 ± 5.4	27.52 ± 6.0	0.06^f	0.94
SEX	Male	13(52%) 12(48%)	12 (48%) 13 (52%)	12 (48%) 13 (52%)	0.11 ^X2	0.95
	Female
ASA	I II	12 (48%) 13 (52%)	10 (40%) 15 (60%)	13(52%) 12(48%)	0.75 ^X2	0.69
Operation Duration (min)		111 ± 32.2	109.6 ± 30.9	110.6 ± 29.7	0.01 ^f	0.99

Data expressed as mean ± SD, proportion, F=one way anova, X²= Chi-square, C=control group, D=dexmedetomidine group, F=fentanyl group. % = Percentage of patients. P > 0.05 = non-significant.

BMI= Body mass index, ASA= American Society of Anesthesiology Physical Status Classification System.

Table 2. Comparison between groups as regards onset, duration of sensory analgesia and number of patients required pethidine.

	Group C	Group D	Group F	F/X^2	P-value
Onset of Sensory Analgesia (min)	19.2 ± 3.1	12 ± 2.7^⁋	13.6 ± 3.1^¥	39.58 ^f	<0.001
Duration of Analgesia (min)	93 ± 4.1	151 ± 15.9^⁋ ^€	122 ± 12.7^¥	146.37 ^f	<0.001
Number of patients required pethidine	12 (48%)	2(8%)	6 (24%)	10.4^x2	0.006

Data expressed as mean ± SD and proportion (number and percentage). F=one way a nova, X²= Chi-square Dex=dexmedetomidine group, Fent=fentanyl group, ⁋= post hoc test (Tukey) test significance between control group and Dex group, ¥= post hoc test (Tukey) test significance between control group and Fent group, €= post hoc test (Tukey) test significance between Dex group and Fent group.

Table 3. Comparison between groups regarding VAS and postoperative pain control.

	Group C			Group D			Group F			Z	P-value
	R.	M.	IQR	R.	M.	IQR	R.	M.	IQR
VAS
Baseline	1–5	3	3–4	1–4	2^⁋	1–3	1–5	3	2–3	11.97	0.003
After 2 hr	2–5	3	3–4	1–4	2^⁋ ^€	1.75–3	1–4	3^¥	2–3	17.67	<0.001
After 6 hr	2–5	3	3–3	1–4	2^⁋ ^€	1–2.25	1–4	3^¥	2–3	20.3	<0.001
After 12 hr	1–5	3	2–3	1–3	2^⁋	1–2	1–4	2	2–3	10.89	0.004
After 24 hr	1–4	2	2–2.25	0–3	1^⁋	1–2	1–4	2	1–2	9.04	0.011
Pethidine
Consumption (mg)	0–100	0	0–50	0–50	0^⁋	0–0	0–50	0^¥	0–25	11.97	0.0035

Data expressed as range (R), median (M), and IQR, z= Kruskal Wallis test, Dex=dexmedetomidine group, Fent=fentanyl group, ⁋= post hoc test (Conover) test significance between control group and Dex group, ¥= post hoc test (Conover) test significance between control group and Fent group, €= post hoc test (Conover) test significance between Dex group and Fent group.

Table 4. Comparison between groups regarding intraoperative hemodynamics.

	Group C	Group D	Group F	F	P-value
MAP (mmHg)
Before Activation	98.12 ± 4.4	97.84 ± 4.3	97.96 ± 4.3	0.03	0.97
After 10 min	98.16 ± 4.4	97.2 ± 4.8	97.08 ± 3.7	0.46	0.63
After 20 min	97.72 ± 4.6	96.76 ± 4.8	96.24 ± 3.6	0.74	0.48
HR (beats/min)
Before Activation	83.92 ± 8.9	83 ± 8.3	82.56 ± 8.4	0.17	0.85
After 10 min	83.44 ± 9	81.08 ± 8	79.92 ± 8.3	1.13	0.33
After 20 min	82.8 ± 7.5	80.12 ± 8.1	79.08 ± 8	1.50	0.23

Data expressed as mean ± SD, F=one way anova, C=control group, D=dexmedetomidine group, F=fentanyl group.

Table 5. Comparison between groups regarding postoperative hemodynamics.

	Group C	Group D	Group F	F	P-value
MAP (mmHg)
Baseline	97.4 ± 4.0	96.44 ± 3.8	95.44 ± 4.1	1.52	0.23
After 2 hr	97.36 ± 3.3	95.12 ± 5.5	95.2 ± 3.7	2.22	0.12
After 6 hr	97 ± 2.6	92.36 ± 5.0^⁋	94.84 ± 2.9	9.97	<0.001
After 12 hr	96.92 ± 2.5	91.52 ± 5.8^⁋	94.64 ± 6.1	7.12	0.002
After 24 hr	95.92 ± 3.4	89.52 ± 4.7^⁋	93.36 ± 4.1^€	15.31	<0.001
HR (beats/min)
Baseline	82.12 ± 11.0	79.04 ± 7.1	78.24 ± 7.3	1.41	0.25
After 2 hr	82 ± 9.6	76.48 ± 8.1	78 ± 6.9	2.95	0.06
After 6 hr	81.4 ± 8.9	73.52 ± 6.4^⁋	76.8 ± 6.8	7.07	0.002
After 12 hr	80.88 ± 8.5	72 ± 6.4^⁋	76 ± 6.6	9.46	<0.001
After 24 hr	80.32 ± 7.9	71 ± 6.6^⁋	74.64 ± 5.8^¥	11.79	<0.001

Data expressed as mean ± SD, F=one way a nova, Dex=dexmedetomidine group, Fent=fentanyl group, ⁋= post hoc test (Tukey) test significance between control group and Dex group, ¥= post hoc test (Tukey) test significance between control group and Fent group, €= post hoc test (Tukey) test significance between Dex group and Fent group.

Table 6. Comparison between groups regarding complications.

	Group C	Group D	Group F	X^2	P-value
PONV	1(4%)	2(8%)	6(24%)	5.3	0.07
Pruritis	0(0%)	0(0%)	3(12%)	6.25	0.04
Urinary retention	0(0%)	0(0%)	2(8%)	4.1	0.13
Respiratory depression	0(0%)	0(0%)	2(8%)	4.1	0.13
Dry mouth	0(0%)	7(28%)	2(8%)	9.8	0.007
Hypotension	1(4%)	5(20%)	2(8%)	3.6	0.16
Bradycardia	0(0%)	5(20%)	2(8%)	5.987	0.0501
Headache	0(0%)	0(0%)	1(4%)	2.03	0.36
Shivering	0(0%)	1(4%)	2(8%)	2.08	0.35
Motor block	0(0%)	5(20%)	2(8%)	5.987	0.0501

Data expressed as, proportion, X²= Chi-square, C=control group, D=dexmedetomidine group, F=fentanyl group.