A Comparative Study between Fentanyl and Dexamethasone as Adjuvants in Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block With 0.5% Levobupivacaine

Original Research Article Different additives have been used to prolong brachial plexus block. This is a prospective, randomized, study to compare the block characteristics between Fentanyl and Dexamethasone as adjuvants in supraclavicular brachial plexus block with 0.5% Levobupivacaine. Sixty patients of ASA grades 1 and 2 were randomly divided into two groups of thirty patients each, group 1 received 0.5% Levobupivacaine(2mg/kg) with 2mL of 100mcg Fentanyl and group 2 received 0.5% Levobupivacaine(2mg/kg) with 2mL of 8mg Dexamethasone. The groups were compared in terms of onset of sensory block and onset of motor block, duration of sensory block and motor block and duration of analgesia. The onset of sensory block is significant between the two groups 8.43±1.89mins in group 2 as compared to 10.1±1.3mins in group 1 which is statistically significant (0.0002), and the onset of motor block is earlier in group 2, mean time for onset of motor block in group 1 is 14.4±1.73mins as opposed to 12.93±1.48mins.which is statistically significant (p value < 0.0001). The mean duration of sensory block and mean duration of motor block both are prolonged in group 2. Mean duration of motor block in group 1 is 774.8±42.74mins and 851.29±49.301mins in group 2, which is statistically significant (p value <0.0001). Mean duration of sensory block in group 1 is 941.29±49.8mins and 1030.32±49.08mins in group 2, which is statistically significant (p value < 0.0001).