AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of post operative analgesia, associated haemodynamic changes, side effects like hypotension, nausea, vomiting, pruritis, urinary retention and to assess for any residual motor blockade with continuous epidural infusion of ropivacaine 0.125%, ropivacaine 0.125% with 1 μg/ml Fentanyl, levobupivacaine 0.125%, levobupivacaine 0.125% with 1 μg/ml Fentanyl

METHODOLOGY : The study was conducted in 120 patients admitted in Government General Hospital, Kurnool undergoing elective or emergency abdominal surgeries from 2014–2015, who are aged between 18 and 60 years, and of ASA grade 1 and grade 2. After institutional ethical committee approval and with informed parental consent, 120 patients were randomly allocated into four groups of thirty each.

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS: Analgesia was superior in levobupivacaine with Fentanyl infusion and least in plain ropivacaine infusion. Differences in analgesia found in

levobupivacaine, ropivacaine with Fentanyl and plain levobupivacaine was not clinically significant. Hemodynamic changes among groups were found not statistically significant throughout the study. Associated motor block was found in two patients in levobupivacaine with Fentanyl group and one patient in plain levobupivacaine group. Nausea, vomiting was distributed equally among four groups. Hypotension was reported in levobupivacaine with Fentanyl and ropivacaine with Fentanyl groups but not significant. Pruritis was not observed in any of the groups. Urinary retention was noted in ropivacaine with Fentanyl and levobupivacaine with Fentanyl groups but not statistically significant.

Conclusion: We conclude from present study that levobupivacaine with fentanyl is an attractive option for postoperative epidural analgesia. Ropivacaine with Fentanyl and levobupivacaine with fentanyl were of equianalgesic efficacy and plain 0.125% ropivacaine infusion is of lower analgesic efficacy probably due to the shorter duration of action and less potency of ropivacaine.