A Comparative Study of Ropivacaine and Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine during Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block in Upper Arm Surgeries

Pain is a complex multidimensional human perception. It is divine to allay pain, Says Galen. In treatise on gout and rheumatism English physician Thomas Sydenham in 17th century wrote-“Among the remedies, which it has pleased Almighty God to give man to relieve his suffering none is so universal and as efficacious as opium.” Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that adding dexmedetomidine significantly prolongs the duration of analgesia. Another objective of the study was to assess the extent to which the duration of analgesia and Anaesthesia is prolonged with the addition of Dexmedetomidine. Ropivacaine 0.50% used in brachial plexus block is well tolerated and provides effective surgical Anaesthesia as well as relief of postoperative pain. Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine enhances the quality of ISB block by faster onset of sensory and motor block. Dexmedetomidie increases the duration of both sensory and motor blockade. Duration of analgesia was significantly increased by dexmedetomidine when added to ropivacaine in brachial plexus block. Though statistically insignificant, addition of dexmedetomidine results in more intraoperative hemodynamic stability. Both dexmedetomidine and ropivacaine do not cause any major side effects in anaesthesia techniques. Thus, this study shows that dexmedetomidine 150 μg added to ropivacaine 0.50% in an appropriate technique has low side effect profile with considerable therapeutic benefit and enhances the quality of ISB block.