Comparison of levobupivacaine alone and levobupivacaine with dexmedetomidine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block: A prospective randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is the most suitable mode of anaesthesia for various upper limb surgeries. Dexmedetomidine added to local anaesthetics shortens the onset time and prolongs the duration of block and post-operative analgesia in the brachial plexus block. However, there remains limited knowledge of its analgesic efficacy and duration in peripheral nerve and nerve plexus blockade. d: This prospective randomized double-blinded study was conducted with 60 patients of ASA physical status class I/II, scheduled for elective unilateral upper limb surgery. Patients were randomized into 2 groups of 30 each. All patients in Group L received a brachial plexus block with 29 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine + 1ml of normal saline. Group LD received 29 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine + 1ml of dexmedetomidine 1ml(100mcg). The primary objectives were the onset and duration of sensory and motor block. The onset of sensory and motor block was earlier in Group L (12.4 ± 3.1 min and 20.5 ± 3.8 min) than Group LD (15.9 ± 2.7 min and 22.1 ± 3.2 min), (P = 0.0000 and 0.0801). The duration of sensory and motor block was longer in Group LD (1198.0 ± 48.5 min and 1178.3 ± 41.4 min) than Group L (710.3 ± 87.3 min and 688.7 ± 86.6 min), (P =0.0000). The duration of analgesia was longer in Group LD (1222.0 ± 49.2 min) than Group L (726.3 ± 91.1 min), (P < 0.0001). Dexmedetomidine added with levobupivacaine prolongs the duration of sensory as well as motor block in brachial plexus block using the supraclavicular technique with haemodynamic stability.