DECREASE IN PAIN OF PROPOFOL INJECTION AFTER ORAL CLONIDINE

Abstract

Objective: To assess the potential of oral Clonidine premedication in
decreasing patient discomfort during the injection of Propofol. Design: This was a comparative study of 80 ASA class
1 and II. Place and Duration of study: This study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital, Kharian. Patients and
Methods: This was a study of 80 ASA class 1 and 2 patients of similar age group. Patients selected were from amongst
those undergoing elective gynaecological surgery, specifically Diagnostic Dilatation and Curettage. These patients were
selected by non-probability convenience sampling. The patients were randomly assigned, by means of a random table,
to one of the two groups of 40 patients each. Group ‘A’ patients were given oral Clonidine, 300mg two hours before
induction of anaesthesia by Propofol injection. Group B’ patients were given 0.01 to 0.02mg/kg plain Lidocaine just
before Propofol induced anaesthesia. Non-invasive systolic arterial blood pressure (ni-SBP), non-invasive diastolic
arterial blood pressure (ni-DBP) and heart rate were recorded in the ward about 120 min [before administration of oral
Clonidine in group-A] in both groups. Measurements were repeated in the operating theatre before induction of
anaesthesia. Patients in Group-A were given one tablet Catapres [Clonidine, 300mg] with a sip of water, two hours
before induction of anaesthesia and they were observed in the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit during this period, while
their pulse and blood pressure were monitored. Patients in group-B were not premedicated with Clonidine. They were
injected 0.01 to 0.02mg/kg injection plain lidocaine, through the injection port of an 18-gauge cannula, as premedication
just before propofol monitoring was done as for group-A. Before administration of propofol, the patient was requested
to rate immediately any sensation of pain during injection as none (0), mild (1), moderate (2) or severe (3), also called
the Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). Results: The results showed both groups to have similar pain score, and differences
were deemed statistically not significant by the analysis. Conclusion: Our results imply that Clonidine makes an
excellent premedication with Propofol for short gynaecological procedures.