ABSTRACT

Aim: To examine the efficacy of ropivacaine with nulbuphine and compare with ropivacaine alone in supraclavicular block.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial

Place and Duration of Study: Main Operation Theatre DHQ Teaching Hospital/Gujranwala Medical College, Gujranwala from 1st November 2018 to 30th September 2019.

Methodology: Forty eight patients of both genders with ages 18 to 65 years undergoing upper limb surgical procedures electively were enrolled in this study. All the patients were divided equally in to two groups, each group consist of 24 patients. Group A received ropivacaine with nulbuphine and group B received ropivacaine with normal saline. Effectiveness between both groups was 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 block between both groups (p=0.001). In group A mean duration of sensory block was more 425.18±17.82 minutes as compared to group B 254.43±20.44 minutes. Mean duration of motor block was also more in group A 418.65±20.84 minutes as compared to group B 226.15±12.52 minutes. Duration of analgesia was high in group A as compared to group B with p-value <0.05.

Conclusion: Ropivacaine 0.75% with 10mg nulbuphine is very effective in supraclavicular brachial plexus block in term of sensory, motor block and duration of analgesia as compared to ropivacaine alone.

Keywords: Supraclavicular, Brachial plexus block, Ropivacaine, Nulbuphine, Duration of analagesia