DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i06.039

Pages: 2227-2230

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is a popular and easy technique for upper limb surgeries. Blind technique often requires multiple trial and error needle attempts, resulting in increase in procedure time, procedure related pain and complications including pneumothorax, which is very risky. In developing countries like India, ultrasound is a relatively new technique and is increasingly being used for performing nerve blocks. Hence, this study was planned for comparing the efficacy of conventional supraclavicular brachial plexus block with ultrasound guided technique. After obtaining the Institutional ethical committee approval and patient consent 100 of ASA grade I and II and in the age group of 18-50 years patients were enrolled in this prospective randomized study. They were randomly allocated to Group c –conventional method (n=50) and Group us-usg guided method (n=50).Each patient received 25ml 0.5% levobupivacaine mixed with 5 ml isotonic saline water.The parameters compared between the two groups were lock execution time, time of onset of sensory and motor block, duration of sensory and motor block and hemodynamic state during period of study. Success rate and effective quality of block were more satisfactory with ultrasound technique than the conventional blind technique.