Dexamethasone as an Adjuvant to 0.5 % Ropivacaine for Ultrasound Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

BACKGROUND Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is a reliable, regional anaesthetic technique for upper limb surgeries. Also known as “spinal of upper limb”.1 The present study was conducted to assess the analgesic efficacy of dexamethasone as an adjuvant to 0.5 % ropivacaine for ultrasound sonography (USG) guided brachial plexus block. METHODS 50 adult patients of American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II of both genders, aged 18 - 50 years scheduled for elective upper limb surgeries under brachial plexus block via supraclavicular approach were randomised into 2 groups of 25 patients each to receive either 20 ml of 0.5 % ropivacaine with 2 ml of normal saline (group A) or 20 ml of 0.5 % ropivacaine with 2 ml of dexamethasone (8 mg) (group B). RESULTS Use of ultrasound helps in better visualisation of nerves, needle & spread of local anaesthetic at brachial plexus block site. So, less amount of drug volume is required for the block. Time of onset of sensory and motor block was significantly lower in group B compared to group A. Mean duration of motor and sensory block was significantly longer in group B than group A. The duration of postoperative analgesia was 18.79 ± 2.31 hours in group B & 9.06 ± 0.35 hours in group A, with statistically highly significant difference (P < 0.05). There were no perioperative haemodynamic variations between the two groups and no complication of technique or adverse effects due to dexamethasone occurred. CONCLUSIONS Dexamethasone 8 mg has significantly extended duration of analgesia of brachial plexus block with no adverse effects. KEYWORDS Brachial Plexus Block, Ropivacaine, Dexamethasone, Supraclavicular Approach, Ultrasound Guidance