Shweta Saurin Mehta1, Nidhiben Sureshbhai Patel2
BACKGROUND
Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is a reliable, regional anaesthetic technique
for upper limb surgeries. Also known as “spinal of upper limb”.1 The present study
was conducted to assess the analgesic efficacy of dexamethasone as an adjuvant
to 0.5 % ropivacaine for ultrasound sonography (USG) guided brachial plexus
block.
METHODS
50 adult patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status
I and II of both genders, aged 18 - 50 years scheduled for elective upper limb
surgeries under brachial plexus block via supraclavicular approach were
randomised into 2 groups of 25 patients each to receive either 20 ml of 0.5 %
ropivacaine with 2 ml of normal saline (group A) or 20 ml of 0.5 % ropivacaine
with 2 ml of dexamethasone (8 mg) (group B).
RESULTS
Use of ultrasound helps in better visualisation of nerves, needle & spread of local
anaesthetic at brachial plexus block site. So, less amount of drug volume is
required for the block. Time of onset of sensory and motor block was significantly
lower in group B compared to group A. Mean duration of motor and sensory block
was significantly longer in group B than group A. The duration of postoperative
analgesia was 18.79 ± 2.31 hours in group B & 9.06 ± 0.35 hours in group A, with
statistically highly significant difference (P < 0.05). There were no perioperative
haemodynamic variations between the two groups and no complication of
technique or adverse effects due to dexamethasone occurred.
CONCLUSIONS
Dexamethasone 8 mg has significantly extended duration of analgesia of brachial
plexus block with no adverse effects.
