Early and Late Haemodynaemic Effects after Adding Fentanyl to Bupivacaine-Lignocaine Mixtures in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized Control Trial

Background Objectives: Haemodynamic changes are very crucial issues during regional anaesthesia. The purpose of the present study was to observe the immediate and late haemodynaemic effects after adding fentanyl to bupivacainelignocaine mixtures in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Methodology: This randomized clinical study was conducted in the Department of Anesthesiology in Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) from March 2011 to May 2012 for a period of one year. All patients with the age group of 18 to 65 years who were selected for upper limb surgery distal to the mid arm were the study population. The random allocation of the patient was done into Group A patients (control group) who were received injection Bupivacaine (0.25%) with injection lignocaine A (1%) with injection Normal saline (0.9%). Group B patients (treatment group) were received injection bupivacaine (0.25%) with injection Ligonocaine A (1%) with injection fentanyl. With all aseptic precaution, supraclavicular brachial plexus block was done using paresthesia technique. Pulse and blood pressure were measured at baseline, intra-operatively and post-operatively. Result: A total of 60 patients were enrolled in this study with 30 patients in each group named group A and group B. The mean age of group A and group B were 32.43±12.25 and 34.90±13.05 respectively (p=0.453). The mean pulse rate of group A (79.53±5.03) and group B (78.10±4.26) at baseline level increased at the time of injection (88.30±5.77 and 85.63±4.87 respectively). At 8 hours interval mean pulse rate of group A was 86.47±5.51 compared to that of group B (86.07±3.08). The mean systolic blood pressure of group A (126.50±18.21) and group B (120.07±11.61) at baseline level increased at 0 minute at the time of injection (129.70±15.34 and 123.17±10.57 respectively). The mean diastolic blood pressure of group A (71.73±11.20) and group B (72.73±11.45) at baseline level increased at 0 minute (75.97±12.74 and 75.80±12.85 respectively). At 8 hrs interval mean diastolic pressure of group A was71.73 ±11.20 compared to that of group B (71.73±11.20). Conclusion: In conclusion there is no significant immediate or late haemodynaemic effects after adding fentanyl to bupivacaine-lignocaine mixtures in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2022; 40: 17-22

Two cases of late-onset cardiovascular toxicities after a single injection of local anesthetics during supraclavicular brachial plexus block - A report of two cases -

Background: Local anesthetics systemic toxicity (LAST) is a grave complication of regional anesthesia that usually occurs immediately after local anesthetics injection. Here, we report on rare late-onset toxicity cases after supraclavicular brachial plexus blocks.Case: Two patients underwent surgery for radius fractures. We used lidocaine 100 mg and ropivacaine 150 mg for blocking and infused dexmedetomidine for intraoperative sedation. The 63-year-old male patient’s blood pressure dropped to 87/60 mmHg after 3 h 15 min after blocking. Ventricular fibrillation occurred 10 min later. After five defibrillations, electrocardiography showed ventricular tachycardia that was normalized through one cardioversion. The 54-year-old female patient’s heart rate decreased to 35 beats/min 2 h 30 min after blocking. Her vital signs returned to normal after administering atropine, ephedrine, epinephrine, and lipid emulsion.Conclusions: Physicians should remember that LAST may occur long after local anesthetic injection and be aware of factors that may adversely affect the course of LAST.

Assessment of Duration of Analgesia after Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block Using Bupivacaine With and Without Intravenous Dexamethasone: A Comparative Observational Study

Aim: To compare and analyze the duration of analgesia after giving supraclavicular block using bupivacaine with and without intravenous dexamethasone. Methodology: The study was done in a tertiary care teaching hospital over 06 months. All eligible 50 patients were divided into two groups of 25 each. Group A patients receiving block by 40 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine were compared with Group B patients receiving 40 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine along with 8 mg intravenous dexamethasone. Duration of analgesia was calculated from the time of pain relief after block to the appearance of pain or Numerical Scale Rating (NRS) more than four. Any other complications were also noted. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21, IBM Inc. As the data was found to be normally distributed bivariate analyses were performed using an independent t-test. Results: Mean duration of analgesia was found to be significantly more among subjects given Analgesia with bupivacaine and iv dexamethasone as compared to subjects given Analgesia with bupivacaine only as p<0.05. No significant difference was seen in the distribution of complications like nausea and vomiting among the two study group when compared using Chi-square test as p>0.05. Conclusion: In conclusion, the addition of dexamethasone supraclavicular brachial plexus block provides prolongation of the duration of the block and decreases the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting that may have a great impact on patient comfort.

Analysis of Anesthesia Effect of Dexmedetomidine in Clinical Operation of Replantation of Severed Finger

Brachial plexus block commonly used in finger replantation has the advantages of simple operation, small side effects, and stable circulation, but it has inherent problems such as imperfect block range, slow onset of anesthesia, and short maintenance time of anesthesia. In order to explore the reliable clinical anesthesia effect, this paper uses experimental investigation methods to study the effect of dexmedetomidine in clinical surgery of replantation of severed fingers. Moreover, this paper uses comparative test methods, uses statistical methods to process test data, and uses intuitive methods to display test results. Finally, this paper verifies the reliability of dexmedetomidine in replantation of severed finger through comparative analysis and verifies that the anesthesia method proposed in this paper has certain user satisfaction through parameter survey.

The Effect of Intravenous Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine on Analgesia Duration of Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized, Four-Arm, Triple-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Intravenous dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine, in conjunction with peripheral nerve blockade, have each been reported to prolong the duration of analgesia. This study tested whether combined use further prolongs analgesia duration after supraclavicular brachial plexus block (BPB) in patients undergoing orthopedic upper extremity surgery. One hundred twenty patients were randomized 1:1:1:1 to Control (saline bolus and midazolam infusion [0.05 mg/kg loading, 20 µg/kg/h thereafter]); DMED (saline bolus and dexmedetomidine infusion [1 μg/kg loading, 0.4 μg/kg/h thereafter]); DEXA (dexamethasone [10 mg] bolus and midazolam infusion); and DMED-DEXA (dexmedetomidine infusion and dexamethasone bolus) groups. The primary outcome was the duration of postoperative analgesia, defined as the time from the end of the BPB to the first dose of analgesia via a patient-controlled device. Median (interquartile range) times to first dose of analgesia in the Control, DMED, DEXA, and DMED-DEXA groups were 8.1 (6.2–11.6), 9.0 (8.1–11.3), 10.7 (8.1–20.5), and 13.2 (11.5–19.1) hours, respectively (p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed significant prolongation of analgesia in the DEXA included groups compared with the non-DEXA included groups (DEXA vs. control, p = 0.045; DEXA vs. DMED, p = 0.045; DMED-DEXA vs. control, p < 0.001; DMED-DEXA vs. DMED, p < 0.001). A mixed effect model showed that dexamethasone was the only significant factor for the prolongation of analgesia (p < 0.001). Intravenous dexamethasone prolonged the analgesia duration of supraclavicular BPB after orthopedic upper extremity surgery. The concurrent use of mild to moderate sedation dose of intravenous dexmedetomidine in addition to intravenous dexamethasone showed no additional benefit to the prolongation of analgesia.