Epidural nalbuphine versus dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to bupivacaine in lower limb orthopedic surgeries for postoperative analgesia: a randomized controlled trial

Table 3 Comparison between the three studied groups regarding patient satisfaction score, epidural top-up doses needed, and the need for ketorolac

Variables	Group C (n = 23)	Group N (n = 23)	Group D (n = 23)	P value
Satisfaction Score Number (%)
3	17 (73.9%)	2 (8.7%)	2 (8.7%)	< 0.001
4	6 (26.1%)	16 (69.5%)	11 (47.8%)
5	0 (0%)	5 (21.7%)	10 (43.5%)^a
Top up doses needed. Number (%)
3	0 (0%)	1 (4.3%)	9 (39.1%)	< 0.001
4	1 (4.3%)	11 (47.8%)	13 (56.5%)
5	9 (39.1%)	11 (47.8%)	1 (4.3%)
6	12 (52.2%)^b	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
7	1 (4.3%)^b	0 (0%)	0 (0%)
Ketorolac needed. Number (%)
No	0 (0%)	11 (47.8%)	14 (60.9%)	< 0.001
30 mg	12 (52.2%)^c	9 (39.1%)	9 (26.1%)
60 mg	11 (47.8%)^c	3 (13%)	3 (13%)

Chi-square test
Group C control group, Group N nalbuphine group, Group D dexmedetomidine group, n total number of subjects in each group
P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant
P ≤ 0.001 is highly statistically significant
^aHigh degrees of satisfaction were obtained among group D patients
^bThe need for epidural top-up doses was significantly higher among control group patients than among other groups
^cKetorolac was needed at larger doses in group c than in groups N and D

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