COMPARISON OF EFFECT OF 0.25% BUPIVACAINE ALONE AND 0.25% BUPIVACAINE WITH DEXMEDETOMIDINE IN BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK THROUGH SUPRACLAVICULAR APPROACH
BACKGROUND AND AIM:Brachial plexus block is a safe, effective, low-cost anesthesia with good postoperative analgesia. Adjuvants to local anesthetics may enhance the quality and duration of analgesia. The aim of the study was to study the efcacy of a combination of 0.25% bupivacaine alone versus 0.25% bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine in brachial plexus block by supraclavicular approach. METHODS: This is a prospective double-blind study conducted on sixty patients of ASA1 and ASA2 posted for upper limb surgeries, randomized in a double-blind fashion into two groups. Group A (N-30) received 34ml of 0.25% bupivacaine with 0.5ml of distilled water and group B (N-30) received 0.5ml dexmedetomidine (50 μg) with 34ml of 0.25% bupivacaine as supraclavicular brachial plexus block with help of a nerve stimulator. Onset and recovery time of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia, sedation scores, quality of block, and side effects compared in both groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were well matched in both groups. The intraoperative hemodynamic recording was done at 15 min time intervals from the administration of the drugs. There was a reduction in heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure 30 mins onwards in both groups. There was no signicant difference in the onset of sensory and motor blocks. Duration of sensory block was 299.57 ± 35.94 mins in Group A and 782.2 ± 82.76 mins in Group B, duration of motor block was 272.17 ± 37.31 mins versus 755.63 +/- 86.6 mins respectively, total duration of analgesia was 321 ± 35.46 mins versus 815.80 +/- 88.1 mins respectively. Ramsay sedation score was similar at arrival in both groups but in post-op, the score of 3 was noted in 0% (0/ 30) in Gr A and 93.3% (28/ 30) in Gr B . Quality of analgesia was also better in Group B. There were no signicant adverse events noted in both groups. CONCLUSION: This double-blind Randomized Controlled study showing the combination of dexmedetomidine 50 μg with 34ml of 0.25% bupivacaine is better than 0.5ml of distilled water with 34ml of 0.25% bupivacaine in the duration of sensory and motor block, with better sedation and quality of analgesia with the good safety prole in brachial plexus block by supraclavicular approach.