The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy of intravenous dexmedetomidine & clonidine as adjuvants to low dose opioid (fentanyl) in attenuating the haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia.

This randomized controlled trial was carried out in 120 patients of ASA grade I & II in age group 20-60 yrs of both sexes, who underwent elective surgery under general anaesthesia with endotracheal intubation in lady Hardinge medical college & associated hospitals. They were randomly allocated into three groups of 40 each. Before induction of general anaesthesia, group F received inj. fentanyl 2µg/kg, group C received inj. clonidine 1µg/kg followed by inj. fentanyl 1µg/kg and group D received inj. dexmedetomidine 1µg/kg followed by inj. fentanyl 1µg/kg. After that standard general anaesthesia was given to patients in all the three groups.

It was found that single dose of intravenous fentanyl (2µg/kg) did not attenuate the haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The addition of clonidine (1µg/kg) to fentanyl (1µg/kg) was able to partially blunt it. However, addition of dexmedetomidine (1µg/kg) to fentanyl (1µg/kg) completely abolished it. Also addition of clonidine and dexmedetomidine to fentanyl resulted in reduced requirement of thiopentone and fentanyl during intraoperative period and prolonged the duration of post operative analgesia.

We concluded that the addition of dexmedetomidine (1µg/kg) to fentanyl (1µg/kg) can be done to abolish the stress response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.