The risk-benefit of different doses of intrathecally administered buprenorphine indicated that 100 μg is the ideal dose for a better quality of spinal block and maintenance of hemodynamic stability in people scheduled for elective lower limb surgery under subarachnoid block, as elucidated from a prospective observational study. Researchers sought to determine the onset and duration of postoperative analgesia of 3 distinct doses of buprenorphine in combination with hyperbaric bupivacaine in 90 individuals (aged 18–60 years) undergoing surgery.

The enrolled participants were randomly segregated into 3 groups (30 volunteers in each group) to receive 60, 100, and 150 μg of buprenorphine. Furthermore, all the volunteers were given 3 mL of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine. To examine connection between categorical variables, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used. The link of quantitative variables between the groups was examined by Kruskal–Wallis test while within the groups was investigated by repeated-measures analysis of variance test.

Baseline characteristics like age, sex, and American Society of Anesthesiologist physical status classification were similar among the three groups. Total duration of analgesia, motor block, and sensory block were considerably higher with elevated doses of buprenorphine. The mean difference in duration of analgesia was similar in individuals receiving 150 μg (825 min) and 100 μg (720 min) of buprenorphine. Individuals receiving 150 μg of buprenorphine reported bradycardia as an adverse effect.

Hence, 100 μg buprenorphine along with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine appears to be valuable for postoperative pain management.