Role of TRAMADOL as an adjuvant to local anesthetics in brachial plexus block

Dr. Rupal J. Shah; Dr. Sandip Patel; Dr. Bhargav Ghelani; Dr. Kinjal Bateriwala

Volume : VI, Issue : VIII, August - 2016

Role of TRAMADOL as an adjuvant to local anesthetics in brachial plexus block

Dr. Rupal J. Shah, Dr. Sandip Patel, Dr. Bhargav Ghelani, Dr. Kinjal Bateriwala

Abstract :

Local anesthetic mixtures are used for peripheral nerve blocks to accelerate the onset time of sensorial and motor blocks. Brachial plexus blocks provide a useful alternative to general anesthesia for upper limb surgery. Also certain drugs like opioids, α2 adrenergic agonist, sodium bicarbonate, neostigmine, adrenaline, ketamine etc. are used as adjuvant to local anesthetics to lower doses of each agent and enhance analgesic efficacy while reducing the incidence of adverse reactions. In this study we compared the effect of tramadol versus placebo as adjuvant to bupivacaine for achial plexus block, by supraclavicular approach, for upper limb orthopedic procedures of moderate duration. After receiving institutional ethical committee approval study was conducted in 50 patients of ASA I or II status in the age group of 18–50 years. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in group A received 30ml 1.5% lignocaine with adrenaline(1:2,00,000), 10ml bupivacaine 0.5% and 1ml saline while those in group B received 30ml 1.5% lignocaine with adrenaline(1:2,00,000), 10ml bupivacaine 0.5% with tramadol(100mg). Both groups were compared for the duration of satisfactory analgesia from the time when the block was performed and the time for first administration of rescue analgesic.