Context: Pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgeries leads to adverse effects on cardiovascular physiology which in turn compromises tissue perfusion.

Aims: To study the effect of premedication with intravenous clonidine in modulating the haemodyanamic responses during laparoscopic surgeries.

Settings and Design: Prospective randomised double blinded study.

Methods and Material: The study was conducted in a group of sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic surgeries who were randomly allocated into two groups each having thirty patients namely group green who received 2µg/kg of intravenous clonidine in 100 ml normal saline 15 minutes prior toinduction and group red who received 100 ml of plain saline 15 minutes prior to induction. Haemodyanamic parameters during induction, intubation, pneumoperitoneum and extubation were monitored. The postoperative pain scores and time to first analgesic request were documented.

Statistical Analysis used: Student’s t test was used for the haemodyanamic parameters. Chi square test was used for non parametric values and corresponding p was computed. P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: There was a 20 to 27% increase in heart rate in group red during haemoperitoneum whereas the increase in group green (clonidine group) was 16%. The mean systolic BP varied from 134±17.75 to 95.23± 9.93 in green groups whereas in red group it varied from 144±14.57 to 129.93±13.44. Postoperative visual analogue score was 3.36 in group green as compared to 7.36±1.54 in red group.

Conclusions: Patients receiving intravenous clonidine as premedication showed stable haemodyanamics and better analgesia and sedation as compared to those who didn’t receive clonidine.