Comparative Study of Upper Limb Blocks Given With the Help of Usg Machine (Usg Guided) and Conventional Method

Abstract

BACKGROUND Upper limb blocks are most commonly performed for upper extremities surgery due to their high success rate, early ambulation, less hospital stay, and prolonged post op pain relief. Supraclavicular brachial plexus block, and inter scalene block provide anaesthesia for almost all upper limb surgeries. As they provide dense block and also relives tourniquet pain, these techniques were chosen for upper limb surgeries for my study. We wanted to compare the success rate, dose of drugs, and density of the block given, with the help of USG and with conventional method METHODS In this prospective, randomised, double blinded comparative study, 50 patients ASA class 1 or 2 of either sex, in the age group of 20-50 years, scheduled for orthopaedic upper extremity surgery were included. The patients were divided into 2 random groups group A (n=25) (conventional method) and Group B (n=25) (USG guided). Onset of sensory blockage, motor blockage (by Bromage scale and pinprick), local anaesthetic requirement, postop rescue analgesia, and complications were compared. Chi-square test and independent t-test were used to compare qualitative and quantitative data, respectively. RESULTS Mean dose of lignocaine given in the group A (201.6 ± 27.03 mg) and in group B (188.96 ± 29.51 mg) was statistically not significant. Mean onset of sensory blockage was (13.49 ± 1.70 minutes) in group A and (8.56 ± 0.95 minutes) in group B, statistically significant and motor blockage was (15.96 ± 1.56 minutes) in group A and (10.62 ± 1.68 minutes) in group B, statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Using USG machine to perform brachial plexus block helps to increase the success rate of block, speed onset of sensory and motor block, provides dense block, reduce requirement for rescue analgesia and decreases the incidence of complications.