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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijaa.2349.8471.8321.49

Abstract

Background and Aim: Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is a well-known technique of giving analgesia and anaesthesia for upper limb, our study is aimed at comparing the efficacy of dexamethasone 8mg versus fentanyl 50µg in blockade characteristics and postoperative analgesia when added to 0.5% ropivacaine 30 ml in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. During the study we want to compare the sensory and motor block achieved. Methods: This was a prospective randomized double blind study of 60 cases. The selection of patients was carried out randomly, depending on the lists of operations submitted by the surgical team.A written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Groups were Randomized into Ropivacaine+Fentany group (RF) and Ropivacaine + Dexamethasone (RD) groups. Results: Duration of motor blockade was longer in RD group 793.67±75.143 compared to RF group 455.5±27.429. P value was 0.001 which is statistically significant. Duration of sensory blockade was longer in RD group 1181.67±75.59 compared to RF group 508.83. p value was 0.0001 which is statistically significant. Conclusion: Role of Ultrasonography in regional block need not be emphasized, Addition of dexamethasone prolongs the duration of motor block, enhances the duration of analgesia significantly when compared with fentanyl in supraclavicular brachial plexus block and dexamethasone group has 0 VAS scores for longer period compared to fentanyl group.

Keywords : Supra clavicular Brachial Plexus; Ultrasound; Ropivacaine; Fentany; Dexamethasone.

Corresponding Author : C N Chandra Sekhar, Consultant, Head of the Department, Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad 500073, Telangana, India.