Rahimzadeh P, et al. - In this randomized clinical trial, researchers compared the efficacy of dexmedetomidine (a selective α2 agonist) and fentanyl (a synthetic opioid) added to intrathecal bupivacaine in patients undergoing elective lower limb surgeries. Time to reach the complete motor block, the highest sensory level, regression from block, analgesic request and duration of the drug effect, hemodynamic changes and side effects were compared between patients randomly allocated to three groups: BD group (2.5 ml hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% plus 5 micrograms dexmedetomidine), BF group (bupivacaine plus fentanyl) or BN group (bupivacaine plus normal saline). They found that longer duration of sensory and motor block and longer postoperative analgesia were provided by dexmedetomidine used as an adjuvant to bupivacaine for spinal anesthesia in lower limb surgeries.