Levobupivacaine 0.5% and Levobupivacaine 0.5% alone for SCBP Block for Upper Limb Surgeries

What is it about?

Levobupivacaine 0.5% and Levobupivacaine 0.5% alone for SCBP Block for Upper Limb Surgeries

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Photo by Clement Souchet on Unsplash

Photo by Clement Souchet on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Context: Dexmedetomidine, a potent α2 adrenoceptor agonist, is more selective towards the α2 adrenoceptor and have analgesic and sedative properties [3]. Levobupivacaine has been shown to be safe and effective for epidural/spinal anaesthesia and brachial plexus block [4]. Aims: To assess the safety, efficacy, onset & duration of sensory & motor block and rescue analgesia time of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to levobupivacaine 0.5% and levobupivacaine 0.5% alone in supraclavicular brachial plexus (SCBP) block. Material and methods: 60 patients aged 18-55 years of ASA I & II were divided randomly into two groups using chit method. Group LD (n=30) received 0.5% levobupivacaine 30 ml with inj. dexmedetomidine 1 μg kg-1 and Group L (n=30) 0.5% levobupivacaine 30 ml alone in SCBP block. Onset and duration of sensory & motor block, as well as duration of analgesia were assessed using pinprick, bromage score and visual analogue score respectively. Statistical analysis: The statistical analysis was assessed by unpaired t-test on Microsoft excel and IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 21. P-value significant if <0.05. Results: The rescue analgesia time for Group LD was 1029.55 ± 95.87 and Group L was 657.93 ± 47.81 (p<0.0001). The onset of sensory & motor block was hastened, while duration was significantly prolonged in Group LD than Group L. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine when added to levobupivacaine in SCBP block hastens the onset and prolongs duration of sensory & motor block and rescue analgesia time in the postoperative period with steady haemodynamics.

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