Aim: To evaluate the time of onset, duration of sensory blockade & motor blockade, haemodynamic effects, time duration of post-operative analgesia as well as complications of intrathecal Bupivacaine 0.5% and intrathecal Bupivacaine 0.5% with Inj. Fentanyl 20 mcg in pre-eclamptic parturients opting for elective lower segment caesarean section. 

Material & Methods: A total number of 60 pre-eclamptic parturients with mild to moderate preeclampsia opting for elective lower segment caesarean section were included in a prospective randomized double-blinded control study. Parturients were assigned to receive spinal anaesthesia (SAB) randomly with hyperbaric Inj. Bupivacaine 0.5% 1.8 ml (Group B) or hyperbaric Inj. Bupivacaine 0.5% 1.4 ml along with Inj. Fentanyl 20mcg (0.4ml) (Group F), total of 1.8 ml. The onset, duration, and recovery from sensory blockade and motor blockade, time required to obtain maximum sensory blockade and duration of spinal anaesthesia were noted. The statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test and student’s t-test. 

Results: The onset of both sensory and motor blockade was slower in group B. The durations of sensory block (150±20.24 min) and motor block (135±18.06 min) were significantly long enough in the group F. Haemodynamic parameters were significantly stable in Fentanyl group. 

Conclusion: The addition of Fentanyl 20 mcg to subarachnoid block in mild to moderate pre-eclamptic parturients opting for elective lower segment caesarean section, increased the duration of analgesia, with less side effects and without adverse neonatal outcome. Thus, intrathecal Fentanyl is advantageous in pre-eclamptic parturients with minimal side effects.