Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the onset and duration of sensory and motor block, pruritus, shivering, and duration of analgesia and the effects in the newborn (Apgar) of dexmedetomidine or meperidine given intrathecally with 0.5% bupivacaine. Design: Conduction of a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial, method of randomization: simple randomization. Inclusion criteria: pregnant women, ASA I-II with singleton pregnancies who were underwent elective Caesarean section, term neonate, no contraindication for spinal anesthesia. Exclusion criteria: Patients with cardiovascular disorders, renal failure, coagulopathy, sensitivity to drugs, lack of consent and spinal anesthesia contraindication, history of seizures or other neurological diseases, (IUGR) Lack of proper growth of the fetus inside the uterus. 90 Patients were randomly divided into 3
groups to receive one of the following drugs for spinal anesthesia:
Group D: 0.5% bupivacaine (10 mg) and dexmedetomidine 5 micrograms (Origin orion pharma Germany) (total volume 2.5 ml).
Group M: 0.5% bupivacaine (10 mg) and 10 mg of meperidine (total volume 2.5 ml).
Group P: 0.5% bupivacaine (10 mg) and 0.5 mL of normal saline without preservative (total volume 2.5 ml).Measured variables: Time of onset: the time interval intrathecal injection and loss of sensation in the T10 (by pinprick.),The time to reach the level of anesthesia to T6, The maximum level of sensory block (every 5 minutes or 20 minutes),The duration of sensory block (reduction of the maximum height of 2 level of sensory block), Onset of motor block Bromage score Modified about 1, The duration of motor block (reduced to zero and Modified Bromage score, The patient sedation (10 minutes after arrival to the recovery) based on the Modified ramsay sedation scale, Duration of anesthesia (spinal onset until the patient is complaining of pain), Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, Hypertension, Heart Rate, Nausea, vomiting, itching, shivering in recovery .