Abstract:
Spinal anesthesia is the most commonly used technique for lower abdominal
surgeries as it is very economical and easy to administer 1. The advantages of
subarachnoid block are limited by its short duration of action and lack of
postoperative analgesia.
In recent years, the supplementation of local anaesthetics with adjuvants is
widely in practice, to reduce the dose of local anaesthetic, minimize side effects and
prolong the duration of anaesthesia 1,2 .
Opioid added to local anaesthetic for spinal anaesthesia was first introduced
into clinical practice in 1979 with intrathecal morphine as a forerunner. Neuraxial
administration of opioids along with local anaesthetics improves the quality of
intraoperative analgesia and also provide postoperative pain relief for longer
duration3,4.
Intrathecal morphine provides prolonged postoperative analgesia but is
associated with increased risk of nausea, vomiting, itching and respiratory
depression5.
Fentanyl,
