Evaluation in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block between Dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as an Adjuvant to Local Anesthetic: A Double-Blind Prospective Study

BACKGROUND : Supraclavicular approach to brachial plexus block is a versatile and reliable regional anesthesia technique and a suitable alternative to general anesthesia for upper limb surgical procedures. Ropivacaine , a long acting local anesthetic, with less tendency for neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity is a great local anesthetic for the procedure. Use of adjuvant Dexmedetomidine , a potent alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonist improves the quality of anesthesia as well as intra-operative and post-operative analgesia while maintaining haemodynamic stability, arousable sedation and mild respiratory depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty patients aged between 18 and 60 years with ASA grade I or II posted for elective upper limb surgeries were included in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups with forty patients in each. Group A received 0.5% ropivacaine (31 mL) and Group B received 0.5% ropivacaine + dexmedetomidine 1microgram/kg (31mL). Both groups were compared for onset time and duration of sensory blockade, onset time and duration of motor blockade , total duration of analgesia and associated side effects. CONCLUSION : Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in the supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper limb surgeries , significantly shortens the onset time and prolongs the duration of sensory and motor blocks, with longer duration of post-operative analgesia , with associated significant sedation and a few manageable side effects like bradycardia and hypotension.

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COMPARISON OF FENTANYL AND DEXMEDETOMIDINE AS AN ADJUVANT TO BUPIVACAINE IN SUPRACLAVICULAR BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK: A RANDOMIZED-DOUBLE BLIND PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2016.v9i5.11928 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 74 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Daisy Karan ◽

Swastika Swaro ◽

Swarna Banerjee

Keyword(s):

Brachial Plexus ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Brachial Plexus Block ◽

Nerve Blocks ◽

Double Blind ◽

Rescue Analgesia ◽

Sensory Blockade ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block ◽

Plexus Block

ABSTRACTObjectives: Supraclavicular block of brachial plexus provides complete and reliable anesthesia for upper limb surgeries. Using adjuvant to localanesthetics, blocks can be prolonged to long durations. Peripheral nerve blocks thus help in avoiding the hazards of general anesthesia. We comparedthe sensory blockade, motor blockade, and duration of analgesia with the addition of fentanyl or dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine for supraclavicularbrachial plexus block.Methods: A total of 50 American Society of Anesthesiologist’s Physical Status I and II patients scheduled for elective upper limb surgeries undersupraclavicular brachial plexus block were divided into two equal groups in a randomized double-blinded fashion. Group BF received 30 mlbupivacaine with fentanyl 50 µg and Group BD received 30 ml bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine 50 µg. The characteristics for anesthesia andanalgesia were assessed in both groups.Results: Duration of sensory and motor block was 363.4±38.36 minutes and 357±36.77 minutes, respectively, in Group BF while it was452.96±77.12 minutes and 441.52±48.46 minutes in Group BD. There was a statistically significant difference in onset of sensory and motorblock between the two groups. The duration of analgesia (time to requirement of rescue analgesia) in Group BD was longer than in Group BF(471.44±65.88 minutes vs. 366.48±38.02 minutes) with (p<0.0001). There were minimum hemodynamic disturbances and side effects in any groupexcept for Grade 3 sedation score which was more in Group BD.Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine, when added to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block, enhanced the duration of sensory and motorblock and also the duration of analgesia, more than when fentanyl was added to bupivacaine.Keywords: Fentanyl, Dexmedetomidine, Bupivacaine, Supraclavicular brachial block.

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