Background
Ambulatory knee surgeries are increasing in frequency, however post spinal urinary retention can represent a hazardous post-operative issue to patients. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of intrathecally injected 5 µg dexmedetomidine, or 25 µg fentanyl as adjuvants to bupivacaine in low dose spinal anesthesia for unilateral arthroscopic knee surgeries, on the incidence of post-operative urinary retention (POUR), the duration of sensory and motor blocks, time to micturition, and the number of patients who needed an indwelling (Foley’s) catheter.
Methods
Seventy patients, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II, from 21 to 50 years old, were randomly divided into two equal groups: the Bupivacaine-Dexmedetomidine group (BD) patients and the Bupivacaine-Fentanyl group (BF) patients.
Results
The incidence of POUR was statistically non-significant less in the BD group patients, than in the BF group patients. The duration of sensory and motor blocks, as well as the time to micturition, was comparable between patients in the two groups. No patient in either group required insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter at the sixth post-operative hour.
Conclusion
In unilateral arthroscopic knee surgeries, the addition of dexmedetomidine to low-dose spinal anesthesia decreased the clinical incidence of POUR compared to the addition of fentanyl.