Comparative study on efficacy of ropivacaine and bupivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus

Abstract

Supraclavicular brachial plexus block is a very popular mode of anaesthesia for various upper limb surgeries, due to its effectiveness in terms of cost, performance, margin of safety and good post-operative analgesia. The study was a prospective randomized, double blind control study conducted on 60 patients aged 20 to 60 years, undergoing elective upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular brachial plexus block. Onset of sensory block between the two groups shows that onset of block is earlier in group B (Ropivacaine) with mean value of 11.93 min compared to group A(Bupivacaine) with a mean value of 14.33 min and is statistically significant. Onset of motor block is higher in Group A with mean value of 19.7 min compared to group B which has a mean value of 14.9 min and is statistically significant. Comparison of duration of block between the two groups shows that duration of sensory block is longer in group A with a mean value of 446.43 min compared to group B with a mean value of 420.37 min and is statistically significant. Duration of motor block is longer in group A with a mean value 406.97 min and is statistically significant.