Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of ropivacaine with nalbuphine versus ropivacaine alone in supraclavicular block.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Anesthesia, Doctors Trust Teaching Hospital Sargodha and Department of Anesthesia, DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha, from 1st January 2020 to 31st July 2020.

Methodology: Sixty patients of both genders with ages 20 to 65 years undergoing elective upper limb surgeries having ASA class I and II were enrolled in this study. All the patients were divided equally in to two groups, each group consist of 30 patients. Group I received ropivacaine with nalbuphine and group II received ropivacaine with normal saline. Effectiveness between both groups in term of time to sensory blockade and motor blockage and time to rescue analgesia were examined.

Results: No significant difference was observed regarding age, gender, body mass index and ASA class I/II between both groups with p-value >0.05.A significant difference was found regarding onset time of sensory and motor blockade between both groups I and II (6.56±2.34 vs 12.64±2.27 min) and (10.58+3.24 vs 16.32±3.78 min) p-value <0.05. In group I mean duration of sensory blockade was longer 548.74±28.33 minutes as compared to group II 357.18±24.66 min minutes. Mean duration of motor blockade was also longer in group I 452.43±22.38 minutes as compared to group II 234.21±15.84 minutes (p-value <0.05).

Conclusion: Ropivacaine 0.75% as an adjuvant to nalbuphine is safe and effective for supraclavicular brachial plexus block in patients undergoing elective upper limb surgeries.

Keywords: Brachial plexus block, Ropivacaine, Nalbuphine, Supraclavicular, Postoperative analgesia