*Corresponding author- Dr Nidhi Anand, MD Associate Prof. Dept. of Anaesthesiology, SGRRIMHS, Patel Nagar, Dehradun-248001. E-mail- manishnidhi328@yahoo.com, Ph no.-09358161797
The aim of our study was to compare the onset of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia and haemodynamic parameters of bupivacaine given alone and in combination with tramadol in supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper extremity surgeries.
One hundred and fourteen adult ASA grade 1 and 2 patients scheduled for elective upper limb surgeries were divided in two groups in a randomized double- blind manner. Group I received bupivacaine 0.5% (20 ml) and sterile water (10 ml) for brachial plexus block (control group). Group II received bupivacaine 0.5% (20 ml), sterile water (8 ml) and tramadol 100 mg (2 ml) (study group). Onset of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia and quality of block were compared.
The onset of sensory block and motor block was 15.39± 1.13 min and 11.46 ± 1.04 min, respectively, in group I, while it was 19.12± 1.51 min and 15.43±1.11 min, respectively, in group II. The difference was statistically significant. The duration of analgesia was 411.96±24.60min in group I as compared to 487.36±27.35 min in group II. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.001).The quality of motor block was better in group II but there was no difference in the quality of sensory block.
Tramadol when used as an adjunct to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block enhanced the duration of analgesia as well as quality of block. However the onset time of motor and sensory block was longer than bupivacaine only group.
Supraclavicular block, Bupivacaine, Tramadol
