Intrathecal Dexmedetomidine With Bupivacaine, in Patients Undergoing Knee Orthopedic Surgery

Intrathecal adjuncts are commonly added to local anesthetic agents, to improve the duration of nerve blocks and postoperative pain relief without increasing the dosage of local anesthetic. Studies have shown that dexmedetomidine (DEX) has a greater potential for enhancing analgesic effects due to its higher specificity for alpha2 adrenoceptors. DEX is commonly used for sedation and as an adjunct to reduce the amount of anesthesia and opioids required during general and regional anesthesia in both adults and children.