A COMPARISON BETWEEN DEXMEDETOMIDINE AND MIDAZOLAM FOR PREVENTION OF ETOMIDATE INDUCED MYOCLONUS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING SURGERIES UNDER GENERAL ANAESTHESIA.

Background: Myoclonus is a common problem during induction of anaesthesia with etomidate. A variety of drugs have been used to decrease the incidence of myoclonus. In this study we compared the effects on dexmedetomidine and midazolam pretreatment on the incidence and severity of EIM. Materials and Methods: Fifty adult patients (18 to 60 years age) of either sex, ASA-PS-I and II undergoing elective general surgeries under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups. Group D patients received Inj. Dexmedetomidine (0.5ug/kg) and Group M received Inj. Midazolam (0.02mg/kg) in 10 ml normal saline over ten minute. After 2 minutes patients were induced with etomidate. The patients were observed for occurrence and severity of myoclonus for 3 minutes from the start of Injection of the induction dose and graded according to clinical severity (Grade 0-III). Results: In Group D, 14 out of 25(56%) patients did not have any myoclonus during induction with etomidate, and none of the patients had grade III (severe) myoclonus. 8 patients of 25 (32%) patients observed grade I and 3 out of 25(12%) had grade II EIM in group D. In group M-9(36%), 9(36%), 6(24%), and patients had grade O,I,II and III EIM respectively. Conclusion: Incidence and severity of EIM among patients who underwent pretreatment with dexmedetomidine was greatly reduced than those who underwent pretreatment with midazolam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]