DOI: N/A
Hasnat MA , Haque MM , Ahmed S, Waquar B , Meem MR
Background: Brachial plexus block using local anesthesia has become increasingly popular nowadays for upper limb surgery due better efficacy and less side effects. Use of adjuvant drugs along with local anesthetics drugs potentiate the effect of local anesthetics with low amount and increase duration of action. This study compared the efficacy and safety between dexamethasone and fentanyl as adjuvant with bupivacaine for brachial plexus block for upper limb surgery.
Methodology: This prospective comparative study performed at Shahjalal Hospital, Sylhet during 2022 and 2023. There were 76 patients undergoing upper limb surgery were included in this study; 38 patients received Dexamethasone with Bupivacaine and 38 patients received Fentanyl with Bupivacaine. Patients were observed for the time to take onset of nerve blocking effects and time to achieve complete nerve block, and total duration of both sensory and motor function block.
Result: Fentanyl with Bupivacaine group produced an earlier onset of action and also shorter period to establish complete sensory and motor function compared to Dexamethasone with Bupivacaine group. In contrast, Dexamethasone with Bupivacaine group exerts longer duration of action compared to the Fentanyl with Bupivacaine group. No significant adverse effects were observed in this study.
Conclusion: Both the drugs showed better efficacy and safety of using them as adjuvant to Bupivacaine for the Brachial plexus block in upper limb surgery.