A CLINICAL STUDY OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK USING A NERVE STIMULATOR IN COMPARISON WITH THE CONVENTIONAL PARAESTHESIA TECHNIQUE

Dr R KONDA REDDY; Dr P RAMA KRISHNA

Volume : V, Issue : VII, July - 2015

A CLINICAL STUDY OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK USING A NERVE STIMULATOR IN COMPARISON WITH THE CONVENTIONAL PARAESTHESIA TECHNIQUE

Dr R Konda Reddy, Dr P Rama Krishna

Abstract :

Brachial plexus block quality is determined by accurate localization of nerves and precise injection of local anaesthetics into anatomical site. Eliciting paraesthesia with a needle has been the traditional mean of locating the achial plexus. This study was to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of nerve stimulator by compå with the paraesthesia method. This study was done in 50 ASA grade I and II patients, were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A, the block was performed by eliciting paraesthesia and group B by using nerve stimulator and observed heart rate(HR), blood pressure(BP), oxygen saturation (Spo2) and electrocardiogram in both groups. Success rate in group A 92% vs 84% in group B. The incidence of immediate complications were higher in group A (16%) vs 0% in group B. Time to initiate block was significantly lower in group A compared to group B. The volume of drug required and incidence of complications were lower in group B. So the use of nerve stimulator is equally efficacious block with lower volume of local anesthetic and significantly lower complication rate.