Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block

Abstract

Context:Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to local anesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks has been used in only a few studies.Aims:We aimed at assessing the effect of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block.Settings and Design:Random, controlled, and triple blind.Materials and Methods:Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologist grade I and II patients of either sex scheduled for elective upper limb surgery under supraclavicular brachial plexus block were divided into three equal groups in a prospective randomized double-blind controlled manner. For block patients in Group C received 0.5% ropivacaine (30cc), 0.5% ropivacaine with 50 μg dexmedetomidine (30cc) in Group D and 0.5% ropivacaine (30cc) in Group D-IV along with intravenous infusion of 50 μg dexmedetomidine in normal saline.Statistical Analysis Used:IBM-SPSS software version 17, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test.Results:Demographic profile and surgical characteristics were similar in all the three groups. Sensory block and motor block onset was earlier in group D than in group D-IV and group C. The sensory block and motor block duration was also prolonged in group D when compared with group D-IV and group C. The duration of analgesia was significantly longer in group D and D-IV when compared to group C.Conclusions:Dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to 0.5%ropivacaine in ultrasound guided brachial plexus block shortens the sensory as well as motor block onset time, prolongs sensory and motor block duration and also increases the duration of analgesia. The action of dexmedetomidine most probably is local rather than centrally mediated.

Dexmedetomidine vs. Fentanyl as Adjuvant to Local Anaesthetic Mixture in Peribulbar Block for Retinal Surgery: A Randomized Prospective Study

“…Our results were supported by other studies which reported that adding dexmedetomidine to local anesthetics for nerve block was associated with improvement of the block quality [20,21].…”

Dexmedetomidine as an Adjuvant with Ropivacaine in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block in Upper Limb Surgeries: A Case Control Study

“…Similar findings were found in the studies conducted by Zhang Y and Marhofer et al [11,12] . Moreover they also found that the duration of sensory and motor blockade was more when Dexmedetomidine was used than in patients in whom only ropivacaine was used [13] .…”

Ultrasound guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block using plain ropivacaine and ropivacaine with adjuvants

“…7 Kathuria et al in their study obtained similar results with 50µg dexmedetomidine in 30ml of 0.5% ropivacaine for SBPB. 8 Swami et al concluded that dexmedetomidine (1μg/kg) when added to local anaesthetic (bupivacaine 0.25%) in SBPB increased the duration of sensory and motor block and also the duration of analgesia. 3 Similar prolongation of duration of block was also observed by Esmaoglu et al in their study to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine (100µg) as additive to levobupivacaine (40ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine) in axillary brachial plexus block.…”