Intrathecal bupivacaine with buprenorphine confers prolonged analgesia during C-sections

The goal of a study was to compare the analgesic effectiveness of intrathecal fentanyl and intrathecal buprenorphine as adjuvants to bupivacaine in cesarean sections (C-sections) conducted under subarachnoid block. 

In this hospital-based prospective, comparative clinical study, 100 ASA II patients scheduled for C-sections were randomly assigned to two groups. Group BB received buprenorphine with bupivacaine, and Group BF received fentanyl with bupivacaine. The study assessed factors such as onset and duration of sensory and motor block, maximum sensory block level, duration of analgesia, two-point regression, hemodynamic changes, and side effects. 

The findings revealed that bupivacaine with buprenorphine provided a longer two-segment regression and duration of analgesia compared to fentanyl. Although fentanyl demonstrated a faster sensory block onset, both drugs showed comparable hemodynamic changes and side effects. 

From the results, it was inferred that intrathecal buprenorphine as an adjuvant with bupivacaine offered prolonged and satisfactory analgesia compared to intrathecal fentanyl in subarachnoid block during C-sections.

Source: Das N, Lahkar B, Brahma H, Borah B. The New Indian Journal of OBGYN. 2023;10(1)