Opioid-sparing analgesia with clonidine versus fentanyl in inguinal hernia repair: a randomized clinical trial.

Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups.

Clonidine significantly reduced pain intensity compared with fentanyl (median 0 [IQR 0-3] vs. median 2 [IQR 0-4]; Mann-Whitney U = 1864; 95% CI of median difference - 3.00 to - 2.00; p = 0.019).

Adverse events and costs were similar.

The reduced need for rescue analgesia suggests a clinically relevant opioid-sparing effect.