Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Brachial plexus block avoids unwanted complications due to administration of various drugs in general anesthesia and in the process of upper airway instrumentation. The present study assessed efficacy of supraclavicular brachial plexus block with or without dexamethasone as an adjuvant to 0.5% levobupivacaine. Materials & Methods: 70 patients with ASA physical status I or II of both genderswere divided into 2 groups of 35 each. In group I, patients received 30 ml of 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine with 2 ml of isotonic sodium chloride. In group II, patients received 8mg (2ml) dexamethasone in addition to 30 ml of 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine. Parameters such as duration of surgery, onset of sensory blockade, motor block, duration of sensory blockade, motor blockage and total analgesic requirement were recorded. Results: Group I had 15 males and 20 females and group II had 18 males and 17 females. The mean duration of surgery was 72.6 minutes in group I and 85.2 minutes in group II, onset of sensory blockade was 13.4 minutes in group I and 11.1 minutes in group II, onset of motor blockade was 18.7 minutes and 16.2 minutes, duration of sensory blockade was 652.2 minutes and 924.6 minutes, duration of motor blockade was 572.6 minutes and 770.2 minutes and total analgesic requirement was 24 and 8 in group I and in group II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Dexamethasone reduced the time to onset of sensory and motor blockage and prolonged the duration of analgesia.