[Intrathecal and epidural administration of alpha adrenergic receptor agonists]

Alpha-agonists are frequently added to local anaesthetic agents to prolong the duration of spinal or extradural anaesthesia. Adrenaline and phenylephrine have been employed most commonly for this purpose. Recent controlled studies indicated that the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine, when administered spinally, has a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect. Clonidine seems to be as effective as adrenaline to prolong the duration of local anaesthetic blocks and is useful to decrease the incidence of tourniquet pain under spinal anaesthesia. As they improve the intensity and duration of opioid analgesia, intraspinal alpha-agonists have also a synergic analgesic effect with spinal opioids. Alpha-agonist effects are due: 1) to an activation of the post and/or presynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptors in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord, 2) to a local vasoconstriction by stimulating vascular smooth muscle alpha-receptors which decrease the rate of absorption of local anaesthetics from the subarachnoid or extradural space, 3) to a co-activation of the spinal opioid and alpha-adrenergic receptors at the spinal cord level. However, spinally administered alpha-agonists have side effects, which include vasoconstriction in the spinal cord, hypotension, bradycardia or tachycardia, somnolence and respiratory depression. To minimize such complications, great care may be needed, which is described in this review, assessing the minimal required amount of alpha-agonists and effective clinical monitoring. The development of this technique in the management of subarachnoid and extradural anaesthesia and of chronic pain is discussed.