Additive effect of butorphanol in supraclavicular brachial plexus block

Abstract

Introduction: Increasing the quality of regional anaesthesia has always been an area of interest for anaesthesiologist. Butorphanol is a synthetic opioid analgesic having partial agonist at μ & agonistic activity at kappa opioid receptor. It use has been done as a single drug as well as in combination with a local anaesthetic for axillary brachial plexus blockade. Material and Methods: 60 Patients were allocated randomly into one of the two groups of 30 patients each to receive supraclavicular brachial plexus block. In Group B, 30 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride plus 1ml normal saline and in Group BB, 30 ml of 0.5% Bupivacaine hydrochloride plus 1ml butorphanol (2mg). Onset time of sensory & motor block, duration of motor block & post operative analgesia was observed. Results: The mean duration of sensory block was 4.27 ± 0.51 hrs in group B and 9.10 ± 0.71 hrs in group BB and mean duration of motor block was 3.57 ± 0.56 hrs in group B and 5.13 ± 0.51 hours in group BB. The difference in the two groups was found to be statistically highly significant (< 0.001). The duration of post operative analgesia was 5.27 ± 0.77 in group B and 11.37 ± 0.85 in group BB (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Addition of butorphanol 2mg with bupivacaine prolongs the duration of blockade and postoperative analgesia in supraclavicular brachial plexus blockade without compromising the haemodynamic parameters or producing any significant adverse drug reactions.