Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant to Lignocaine for Intravenous Regional Anesthesia for Forearm and Hand Surgeries: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

Objective: Intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) is an effective anesthetic technique for surgical procedures of short duration involving the distal parts of the limbs. Intraoperative tourniquet pain is the major restraint of this technique, and to overcome this limitation, various adjuvants to local anesthetics have been used. This study investigated the effect of a fixed low dose of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to lignocaine on intraoperative tourniquet pain, onset of block, duration of block, and patient satisfaction. Methods: A total of 100 adult patients with ASA grade I and II who were scheduled for upper limb surgery of approximately 1 hour in duration were randomly divided into two groups (n=50 in each group). Group A received 35 mL of preservative-free lignocaine alone and Group B received 35 mL of preservative-free lignocaine along with 30 μg of dexmedetomidine. The incidence of tourniquet pain, intraoperative fentanyl consumption, duration of onset and recovery of sensory and motor block after tourniquet deflation, postoperative numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) scores, duration of analgesia, and overall patient satisfaction were noted. Result: The incidence of tourniquet pain and intraoperative fentanyl consumption were significantly lower in Group B. The onset and duration of sensory and motor blocks were faster and longer, respectively, in Group B. Postoperative NPRS scores were lower, duration of analgesia was longer, and overall patient satisfaction was better in the dexmedetomidine group. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine at a dose of 30 μg as a lignocaine adjuvant significantly reduces tourniquet pain and intraoperative fentanyl consumption in IVRA. Dexmedetomidine shortens the onset of block, prolongs the duration of block, and provides a more satisfactory anesthesia than lignocaine alone.

Comparison of the Combined Femoral and Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block Plus Popliteal Block with Spinal Anesthesia for Thigh Tourniquet Pain During Foot or Ankle Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: A pneumatic thigh tourniquet is routinely used during lower-extremity orthopedic surgeries to provide a bloodless field. When using peripheral nerve blocks, tourniquet-related thigh pain and discomfort limit their routine use as an anesthetic method. Objectives: The aim of the present prospective, randomized study was to compare the efficacy of combined femoral nerve/lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block technique and spinal anesthesia on intraoperative thigh tourniquet pain. Methods: We studied 60 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II patients scheduled for orthopedic surgery on the foot or ankle using a pneumatic thigh tourniquet. They were randomly divided into two equal groups. The peripheral nerve block group received a combined popliteal, femoral, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block under ultrasound-guidance. In both groups, the level of sensory blockade was determined by the pinprick test. The block performance time, anesthetic effect time, intraoperative tourniquet pain scores, the amount of fentanyl and ketamine, surgery duration, and patient’s satisfaction were recorded. Results: The patients’ characteristics were comparable in the two groups. The mean duration of block performance and anesthetic effect, intraoperative tourniquet pain scores, and the amount of intravenous analgesics in the peripheral nerve block group were significantly greater than those in the spinal anesthesia group. Patient satisfaction was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Spinal anesthesia is significantly more effective than the peripheral nerve block method in reducing thigh tourniquet pain. A combined femoral and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block with popliteal block can improve thigh tourniquet tolerance if supplemented with intravenous analgesics.

Comparison of magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant to lignocaine with lignocaine alone in intravenous regional anaesthesia for upper limb surgery in improving tourniquet pain.

Objectives: To compare mean time to the first analgesic requirement with the Magnesium sulfate with lignocaine and lignocaine alone under intravenous regional anaesthesia for upper limb surgery. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Operative Rooms of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. Period: October 2, 2018 to April 2, 2019. Material & Methods: For the analysis, a total of 150 (75 subjects per group) were selected that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Those subjects were allocated by the use of the tables to two separate anesthetic regimes. Lignocaine plus magnesium sulphate was given to experimental group (M) as an adjunct and control group (L) was given simple IVRA with lignocaine. Mean Atrial Pressure, Heart Rate, and SpO2 were tracked every 2 minutes after start of anesthesia before and after use of the tourniquet. All the patients will be counseled to report if they experience tourniquet pain. When patients complained of tourniquet pain it was assessed on VAS of l-10 and patient was given analgesia if pain >3 on VAS. The data were collected and analyzed in SPSS v25.0. The median time for analgesics was used in both groups for the analysis of the independent t-test. A p-value of 0.05 was estimated significant. Results: 150 patients were enrolled. Mean time to first analgesic requirement is greater with the Magnesium sulfate with lignocaine and lignocaine alone in patients undergoing upper limb surgery under intravenous regional anaesthesia 51.9±4.2 minutes vs. 32.1±4.4 minutes (p=0.000). Conclusion: The findings indicate that the tourniquet pain is reduced by adding magnesium sulphate as an adjuvant to lignocaine.

Addition of Dexmedetomidine to Low Dose Solution of Lidocaine for Intravenous Regional Anesthesia A Randomized Study

Background and Aims: Intravenous Regional Anesthesia (IVRA) provides analgesia of distal part of limb by intravenous injection of local anesthesia in to the vein of the same limb, while the circulation to the limb is occluded by application of tourniquet. However, IVRAis limited by local anesthesia toxicity, tourniquet pain and absence of postoperative analgesia. Various additives to local anesthetics such as ketamine, clonidine, opiods, NSAIDs are used to address these issues. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Dexmedetomidine to low dose Lidocaine solution for IVRA.Patients and Methods: A prospective, randomized double blind study was conducted on 60 patients divided in to two groups of thirty each; Group I patients received 40 ml of Lidocaine 0.25% while Group II patients received 40 ml of 0.25% of lidocaine mixed with I mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine. The motor and sensory block onset and recovery times were assessed. Tourniquet pain and sedation score were assessed intraoperatively and postoperatively.Results: Sensory and motor block onset times were shorter and recovery times were prolonged in Dexmedetomidine group. The quality of anesthesia was better in the Dexmedetomidine group and the fentanyl dose required was also lower in the dexmedetomidine group. There was a significant difference in the postoperative analgesia time which was demonstrated by less use of intramuscular diclofenac in dexmedetomidine group.Conclusions: A safe intravenous dose of lidocaine can be used for IVRA for superficial hand surgery, and the addition of I mcg /kg dexmedetomidine shortened the onset times for both sensory and motor blockade and improved the quality of anesthesia, with prolonged postoperative analgesia time. By adding dexmedetomidine we were able to reduce the dose of lidocaine to 0.25% concentration without compromising analgesia. JMS 2016; 19(1):21-25