Comparative Study of Epidural Dexmedetomidine and Magnesium Sulphate used as Adjuvant to Ropivacaine for Post-Operative Analgesia in Thoracotomy

In group D; hypotension, bradycardia, pruritis sedation (ramsay sedation <3), and dry mouth were usual side effects. Almost all the tolerable side effects were most commonly found in dexmedetomidine group. No side-effects including nausea, vomiting, and respiratory depression were reported in either group. 15/30 patients showed decrease in heart rate in group D but none of them required atropine. In both groups, Figure 1 showed the VAS score followed a decreasing trend from 0 to 20 min of post-epidural. From 20 min to 4 hr, the VAS score was zero and this period was totally pain free in group D. After 4 hrs, the VAS score showed an increasing trend. While in magnesium group VAS score was zero up to 2 hrs after that showed increasing trends of VAS. All the patients of either groups asked for additional epidural drug when the average VAS score was >3. M group needed epidural top up earlier than D group