Background and Aims:Various additives are mixed with local anesthetic agents to increase the quality of block in regional anesthesia. We compared clonidine and dexmedetomidine as an adjunct to bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block with respect to the onset and duration of sensory and motor block and duration of analgesia.Material and Methods:Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists Grades I and II patients scheduled for various orthopedic surgeries of the upper limb under supraclavicular brachial plexus block were divided into two equal groups in a randomized, double-blind manner. Patients were assigned randomly to one of the two groups. In Group C (n = 30), 39 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine plus 1 ml (1 μg/kg) clonidine and in Group D (n = 30), 39 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine plus 1 ml (1 μg/kg) dexmedetomidine were given. The onset and duration of sensory and motor block, duration of analgesia, and quality of anesthesia were studied in both the groups.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the onset of sensory and motor block in both the groups. The durations of sensory and motor block were 316.67 ± 45.21 and 372.67 ± 44.48 min, respectively, in Group C, whereas they were 502.67 ± 43.78 and 557.67 ± 38.83 min, respectively, in Group D. The duration of analgesia was 349.33 ± 42.91 min, significantly less in Group C compared to 525.33 ± 42.89 min in Group D (P < 0.001). The quality of anesthesia was significantly better in dexmedetomidine group compared to clonidine group (P < 0.001).Conclusion:The addition of dexmedetomidine prolongs the durations of sensory and motor block and duration of analgesia and improves the quality of anesthesia as compared with clonidine when injected with bupivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Background:Analgesia in patients with fracture shaft femur is usually insufficient as physician usually relies on parental analgesia in such situations. Local anesthetic blockade of femoral nerve to provide analgesia in fracture shaft femur is an under-used technique. We conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy of femoral nerve block (FNB) with 0.5% ropivacaine for acute pain relief in patients with fracture shaft femur.Materials and Methods:A total of 50 patients were studied as they present in an emergency ward. All patients received an FNB with 15 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine. The onset of block, duration of analgesia, patient's acceptance after 24 h together with the effect of block were assessed.Results:The onset of analgesia occurred in 5.34 ± 1.10 min after the block. Pain scores decreased significantly from 9.12 ± 0.9, preblock visual analog scale (VAS) score to 1.84 ± 1.25, VAS score at 10 min after the block (P < 0.001). The quality of analgesia did not change when patient underwent radiological examination (38.9 ± 5.22 min after block) and traction application (69.4 ± 8.98 min after block). The duration of analgesia observed was 227 ± 63.99 min. Patient acceptance after 24 h of FNB was good in 86% patients. There were no side effects.Conclusions:It was concluded that in the emergency ward, rapid, effective, and long lasting analgesia can be achieved by safe and simple FNB in patients with fracture shaft femur.

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