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 efcacy 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 signicant 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 signicant 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 prole in brachial plexus block by supraclavicular approach.