inute till complete loss of cutaneous sensation at T10 level. Motor block was assessed by Modified Bromage scale (0 = no block ,1= inability to raise extended leg ,2=inability to flex the knee,3= inability to flex ankle and foot).[19]

The time of onset and duration of motor blockade was assessed.

Statistical analysis: It was performed using Student’s unpaired t-test and Chi-square test incorporating Fishers exact test. Significance is assessed at 5% level of significance. The value of P < 0.05 was considered as significant .

Results:

Both the groups were comparable in terms of demographic profile and duration of surgery.(Table 1)

The onset of sensory block was 9.54±1.03 and 9.85±0.97 min for group B and group L respectively and onset of motor block for group B was 19.48±1.58 min and for group L was 19.01±1.30 min. Patients in both groups were comparable with respect to onset of sensory and motor block (p value >0.05).(Table 2)

In patients belonging to group L, 63.3% attained T6 level, 30% attained T7 level and 6.7% attained T10 levels, whereas in group B, 60% attained T6 levels, followed by 30% attaining T7 level and 10% attaining T10 level. There was no significant difference in the highest level of sensory block achieved in both groups.(Table 2)

The duration of motor block was 273.0±11.0 min and 274.9±18.45 min in group B and L, respectively and duration of sensory block was 371.33±13.23 min and 366.17±5.83 min in group B and L respectively. Patients in both groups were comparable with respect to duration of motor and sensory block (p value >0.05).(Table 2)

Degree of motor block was assessed by modified bromage scale showed that in group B,46.67% of patients had grade 2 and 33.33% of patients had grade 3 degree of motor block, whereas in group L only 33.33% of patients had grade 2 and 26.67% of patients had grade 3 degree of motor block. The degree of motor block was higher in group B.(Table 2)

Baseline heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and o