E?ects of Perineural Dexmedetomidine Added to 0.75% Ropivacaine in Peripheral Nerve Stimulator Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block - A Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Study

Dexmedetomidine & ropivacaine in supraclavicular block

Abstract

Background: Regional anaesthesia for the upper limb is being widely used as it not only evades the necessity of general anaesthesia but also provides an excellent postoperative period devoid of nausea, vomiting, and early postoperative pain. The objective is to study the effects of perineural dexmedetomidine 75g added to 0.75% ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block (SCB). The primary objective was analgesia duration. Secondary objectives include various block (sensory and motor) characteristics, sedation, adverse effects if any. Subjects and Methods: Eightyfour patients undergoing forearm and wrist surgeries under peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) guided SCB were randomized into two groups of 42 each. Group R received 24mL 0.75% ropivacaine + 1 mL normal saline (NS), and Group D received 24 mL 0.75% ropivacaine + 75g dexmedetomidine in 1ml NS. Analgesia duration (the time when the first rescue analgesia was given), sensory and motor block characteristics, sedation and side effects in both groups were analysed using appropriate statistical tests. Results : Analgesia duration was significantly increased in group D (780  101.59 min) compared to Group R (475.25  81.42 min), P 0.000. The sensory and motor block  duration was significantly increased in the group D (606.37 74.33 min and 516 49.70 min) compared to group R (411.87 62.90 min and 365.75 51.74 min), P 0.000. Conclusion: Perineural dexmedetomidine with ropivacaine in SCB prolongs the analgesia duration, increase the sensory and motor block duration devoid of any significant side effects.