The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of buprenorphine (60ug) and clonidine (15ug) when used as adjuvants to 0.75% isobaric ropivacaine intrathecally in prolonging the duration of anaesthesia and postoperative analgesia in lower limb surgeries.

A randomized, prospective, double blind study was undertaken on 60 ASA grade I and II patients undergoing surgery under spinal anaesthesia who were divided in three groups of 20 each.

Group III-2.8 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine + 60ug buprenorphine in a partially covered syringe. Along with vitals, total duration of sensory and motor block and analgesia was assessed. Postoperative pain was measured using VAS and rescue analgesia when VAS>4. Decoding and statistical analysis was done and p <0.05 was considered significant

Despite comparable onset time in all the three groups, sensory and motor regression time was significantly longer in Group II and III.(p<0.05).Compared with group I, the duration of analgesia was prolonged in Group II (7hrs) and Group III(10 hrs).

Addition of buprenorphine and clonidine as adjuvants to intrathecal ropivacaine produced significantly longer duration and better quality of analgesia than ropivacaine alone.