Continuous brachial plexus infusion of butorphanol-mepivacaine mixtures for analgesia after upper extremity surgery

Comparative Study of Effectiveness of Tramadol and Butorphanol as Adjuvants to Levobupivacaine for Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

Background:

Butorphanol and tramadol, the synthetic opioid analgesics, have been used alone or in combination with a local anesthetic in supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensory and motor block characteristics with the addition of tramadol (100 mg) and butorphanol (2 mg) to levobupivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus anesthesia.

Settings and Design:

This study was a prospective, randomized, double–blind, and comparative study.

Materials and Methods:

Patients were randomly allocated to three groups of 30 each. Group A received 0.5% levobupivacaine (25 mL) and saline in 5 mL, Group B received 0.5% levobupivacaine in 30 mL with 100 mg tramadol, and Group C received 0.5% levobupivacaine in 30 mL with 2 mg butorphanol. The duration of sensory block was evaluated as a primary outcome and other parameters as secondary outcomes.

Statistical Tests:

Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square test for nonparametric data and analysis of variance for parametric data.

Results:

Onset time of sensory block was fast and comparable in both Group B and C as compared to Group A (P = 0.000). Group C had the longest duration of sensory block and duration of analgesia followed by Group B and Group A. Group C and Group B showed statistically longer duration of motor block as compared to Group A (P = 0.000). Hemodynamic derangements and adverse effects were comparable.

Conclusion:

Butorphanol (2 mg) as an adjuvant to levobupivacaine in supraclavicular block hastens the onset and prolongs the duration of the block as well as postoperative analgesia to a greater extent as compared to the addition of 100 mg tramadol.

Does the addition of tramadol and ketamine to ropivacaine prolong the axillary brachial plexus block?

Background and Objectives. A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial to assess the effect of tramadol and ketamine, 50 mg, added to ropivacaine in brachial plexus anesthesia. Methods. Thirty-six ASA physical statuses I and II patients, between 18 and 60 years of age, scheduled for forearm and hand surgery under axillary brachial plexus block, were allocated to 3 groups. Group R received 0.375% ropivacaine in 40 mL, group RT received 0.375% ropivacaine in 40 mL with 50 mg tramadol, and group RK received 0.375% ropivacaine in 40 mL with 50 mg ketamine for axillary brachial plexus block. The onset times and the duration of sensory and motor blocks, duration of analgesia, hemodynamic parameters, and adverse events (nausea, vomiting, and feeling uncomfortable) were recorded. Results. The onset time of sensorial block was the fastest in ropivacaine + tramadol group. Duration of sensorial and motor block was the shortest in the ropivacaine + tramadol group. Duration of analgesia was significantly longer in ropivacaine + tramadol group. Conclusion. We conclude that when added to brachial plexus analgesia at a dose of 50 mg, tramadol extends the onset and duration time of the block and improves the quality of postoperative analgesia without any side effects.

Continuous axillary brachial plexus analgesia in a patient with severe hemophilia

Until now, the safety of continuous axillary brachial plexus block in a patient with hemophilia has not been reported. We describe the use of continuous axillary brachial plexus block for postoperative pain control in a patient with severe hemophilia after an elbow surgery.

Scalene regional anesthesia for shoulder surgery in a community setting: an assessment of risk

BACKGROUND

A retrospective review of shoulder procedures using scalene block anesthesia was performed.

METHODS

The records of all 218 patients who had undergone scalene block anesthesia over a three-year period at two facilities were retrospectively reviewed. All blocks were performed with use of a standard blunt-needle technique with the patient awake and with use of preoperative nerve stimulation to localize the brachial plexus.

RESULTS

Adjunctive general anesthesia was used for 179 (82%) of the 218 patients. Seventy-two patients (33%) required intravenous pain medication immediately on arrival in the recovery room, and twenty-eight blocks (13%) failed. One grand mal seizure, one episode of cardiovascular collapse, and four episodes of severe respiratory distress were noted. Two patients had temporary neurologic injuries that persisted at six weeks. The mean duration of the block was 9 +/- 4.6 hours. Two hundred (92%) of the 218 patients required parenteral narcotics despite the use of scalene block anesthesia.

CONCLUSION

Informed consent discussions regarding scalene block anesthesia should include information on the prevalence of complications and the efficacy of the technique.

Upper extremity nerve blocks

Anatomy favorable to the application of regional blockade, the capacity to decrease latency and prolong blockade, and the opportunity to facilitate recovery and decrease costs create a constellation of factors that have the potential to make upper extremity blockade a tremendously rewarding application of modern regional anesthetic technique. These rewards can be realized by the motivated anesthesiologist and shared with patients, surgical colleagues, and hospital administrators.

Sufentanil does not prolong the duration of analgesia in a mepivacaine brachial plexus block: a dose response study

To date, results of studies evaluating the efficacy of opioids and local anesthetic combinations in the brachial plexus are inconclusive. We examined whether increasing sufentanil in doses of 5, 10, and 20 microg decreased onset time or increased duration of an axillary brachial plexus block. Ninety-two patients scheduled for carpal tunnel release under axillary brachial plexus block were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized to receive axillary plexus block with 40 mL 1.5% mepivacaine and saline (Group 1), sufentanil 5 microg (Group 2), 10 microg (Group 3), or 20 microg (Group 4). Onset and duration of sensory and motor block were measured. Opioid-related side effects were recorded. The addition of sufentanil did not improve speed of onset or increase the duration of sensory or motor block. Paradoxically, duration of sensory and motor block was longest in the control group: sensory, 241 min (188-284) and motor, 234 min (128-305), and decreased with increasing doses of sufentanil in Group 4: sensory, 216 min (115-315) and motor, 172 min (115-260) (P < 0.05). Side effects occurred in 55% of patients belonging to Groups 2 and 4, and in 60% of the patients in Group 3. In contrast, only 10% of the patients reported side effects in the control group. We conclude that sufentanil added to mepivacaine does not increase the onset or prolong the duration of an axillary plexus block. Furthermore, the addition of sufentanil was associated with a frequent incidence of side effects.

IMPLICATIONS

This study demonstrates that the addition of sufentanil in a dose-dependent manner to 1.5% mepivacaine in the axillary plexus does not improve onset or duration of blockade, and that this admixture is associated with an increased incidence of side effects.

Update in regional anesthesia for shoulder surgery

Recent advances in the application of regional anesthesia to the care of patients undergoing shoulder surgery are discussed. New techniques for the management of postoperative pain are highlighted, with an emphasis on interscalene patient-controlled analgesia and suprascapular block. New developments in the safety and effectiveness of brachial plexus block are presented. The technique of interscalene block used at our institution is discussed in detail. Intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia caused by activation of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex is considered. The ongoing debate regarding the use of paresthesia versus nerve-stimulator techniques is examined.