Comparative Study of Bupivacaine With Dexmedetomidine and Bupivacaine Alone in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

Abstract

Objective: The objective is to compare the efficacy of bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine and bupivacaine alone when used for supraclavicular brachial plexus block in patients undergoing upper limb surgeries. Methods: This was a comparative study conducted in the department of anesthesiology of a tertiary care medical college. 80 patients scheduled for upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular brachial plexus block were included on the basis of a predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on whether they received only Bupivacaine (Group B) or Bupivacaine and Dexmedetomidine (Group BD) for supraclavicular block. The onset and duration of sensory as well as motor blockade, intensity of Pain as assessed by Visual Analog Score, requirement of rescue analgesia, hemodynamic profile, and side effects were compared in both the groups. For statistical purpose p<0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Group BD exhibited significantly faster onset and longer duration of sensory blockade compared to Group B. Group BD also showed significantly faster onset and longer duration of motor blockade compared to Group B. Moreover, Group BD had significantly longer analgesia duration (614.84±52.02 min) compared to Group B (352.62±32.46 min). The hemodynamic parameters, including mean heart rate and mean arterial pressure, were not significantly different between the groups. In addition, side effects such as bradycardia and hypotension were observed in Group BD, but these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine, when used as an adjuvant to bupivacaine during supraclavicular brachial plexus block in upper limb surgeries provided longer-lasting analgesia, and reduced pain intensity as compared to Bupivacaine alone with a comparable side effect profile.