A STUDY OF THE EFFICACY OF TRAMADOL AS AN ADJUVANT TO BUPIVACAINE IN BRACHIAL PLEXUS BLOCK

Volume : VIII, Issue : III, March - 2018

Dr. Haribaskar Ramamoorthy, Dr. C. Kumaran

Background and objectives: Supraclavicular plexus block provides good alternative to

General anaesthesia for upper limb surgeries with good postoperative analgesia. Various

drugs have tried as adjuncts to local anaesthetics for achial plexus block to enhance the

quality and duration of analgesia. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of

Tramadol added to achial plexus block by supraclavicular approach for onset and duration

of block and postoperative analgesia.

Methods: A study was conducted on 60 ASA I or II adult patients undergoing upper limb

surgeries under supraclavicular achial plexus block. Patients were randomly divided into

two groups. Patients in Group B (n = 30) were administered 38mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine +

2ml Normal saline and Group BT (n = 30) were given 38mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine + 2ml

Tramadol (2mg/kg). The onset time and duration of sensory and motor blockade were

recorded. Hemodynamic variables and rescue analgesic requirements were recorded for 24

hrs postoperatively.

Results: The onset of sensory and motor block was significantly faster in Group BT

compared to Group B (P < 0.05). Rescue analgesic requirements were significantly less in

Group BT compared to Group B (P < 0.05). Hemodynamic variables did not differ between

groups in the post–operative period.

Conclusion: Thus Tramadol (2mg/kg) in combination with Bupivacaine was found to be

good agent for hastening the onset of sensory and motor block and improved postoperative

analgesia in achial plexus block.