Efficacy Of Nalbuphine And Magnesium Sulfate With Ropivacaine For Quality Of Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block And Post-Operative Analgesia

ABSTRACT

Background: Adequate post-operative analgesia is the prime duty of anesthesiologist and several adjuvants have been usedalong with local anesthetics to prolong the duration of brachial plexus block. The present study aimed to compare the effect ofnalbuphine and magnesium sulfate as an adjuvant to ropivacaine and ropivacaine alone in nerve stimulator guided supraclavicularbrachial plexus block in patients scheduled for orthopedic upper limb surgeries.Materials and Methods: A total of 90 patients of in the age group of 20–65 years of either sex of the American Society ofAnesthesiologists Grade I and II were divided into three groups of 30 each. Group R received 30 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine alone,Group RM received 30 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine plus 150 mg of magnesium sulfate, and Group RN received 30 ml of 0.75%ropivacaine plus 20 mg of nalbuphine. All the groups were compared with respect to onset and duration of sensory and motorblockade, post-operative analgesia, need for rescue analgesia, hemodynamics, and side effects.Results: Onset of sensory and motor block was earliest in Group RN and was highly significant (P < 0.001) when compared toGroup R and Group RM. Mean duration of post-operative analgesia was 8.70 ± 1.18 h in Group R, 11.73 ± 1.23 h in Group RM,and 14.40 ± 1.25 in Group RN. Duration of sensory and motor block and post-operative analgesia were significantly prolonged(P < 0.001) both in Group RM and Group RN when compared to Group R.Conclusion: Both nalbuphine and magnesium sulfate are effective adjuvant as compared to ropivacaine alone as they prolong theduration of block as well as post-operative analgesia when used for supraclavicular brachial plexus block. However, nalbuphinehas proven to be a better adjuvant as compared to magnesium sulfate as it also results in earlier onset of sensory and motorblock and better patient and surgeon satisfaction scores.