A Study on Comparison between Ultrasound Guided Technique and Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Guided Technique in Performing Brachial Plexus Block

Introduction: As US guidance offers real-time view of the block needle, the brachial plexus, and its spatial relationship with the critical structures surrounding it; it not only boosted the success rates, but also decreased the complication rates. Aims: To compare Time taken for performing blockade, onset of blockade and complete blockade between PNS and USG guided techniques for the supraclavicular approach of brachial plexus block. Materials and methods: This study is an observational cross-sectional randomized study done for a period of 6 months. A total of 60 patients who were posted for elective upper limb surgeries in tertiary care center were chosen for the study and categorized into group A and B by computerized randomization. Group A - patients who underwent US guided supraclavicular block. Group B - patients who underwent PNS guided supraclavicular block. Results: In study, most of the patients fall in the age category of 20-50 years. The groups were similar in-patient characteristics like age, sex, department to which the patient belonged and ASA grading. By comparing the time taken for onset of blockade and complete blockade in patients belonging to both groups, in whom blockade was performed within 5 min, which is statistically significant. In group A patients, no complications occurred. In group B, 6.67 % (2 out of 30) patients had accidental vascular puncture, though the difference is not statistically significant (p-Value = 0.492). Conclusions: we conclude that ultrasonography guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block Is quick to perform, offers improved safety, ensures good quality of blockade and accurate in identifying the position of the nerves to be blocked.